Why we chose the city

1. Public transportation: To make sure that the "can I have a car for my birthday" conversation never happens.
2. The food scene: Because when I don't feel like cooking (which is often) or when the kids don't like my cooking (equally as often), we can easily pick up a jibarito, goat biryani, banh mi, kogi taco, or, best of all, Harold's.
3. Small-space living: Living in small spaces forces us to be choosy about our possessions and smart about storage. At best, it keeps us honest, and at worst, it means saying no to certain things we might want-which, in the end, is not so bad after all.
4. Social awareness: Being a city dweller doesn't automatically make you a compassionate citizen, but there are certainly more opportunities for teaching moments. Much like  Tricia, I find myself talking with my 6-year-old about homelessness, poverty, life and death, and other big-deal topics more than I thought I'd be at this age.
5. Diversity: We wanted our kids to grow up surrounded by playmates who look, think, act, and believe differently.
6. Cultural experiences: Living minutes away from downtown, the lake, and museums beats having a big backyard.

Why we almost chose the 'burbs

1. Parking
2. IKEA

As you can see, it was pretty much a no-brainer.