One thing I miss about living in NYC (or any actual city) is walking around and looking at things! I live at the top of a steep ridge and walking around the neighborhood can be challenging (a lot of people go down the hill and walk around the flat part but I find that kind of boring, though now maybe with my injuries I should give it a try). Plus it's dull because things are the same from day to day. I suppose I could do proper hiking but I hate having to drive there first--I guess I should just get over myself.
I have never been a hiker, or even someone who enjoyed exercise in general (I did love the water aerobics, outdoors, in very warm weather, bobbing around to 50s and 60s rock), but connecting these walks with taking photos and posting about what I see has really made a difference in my attitude. My neighborhood when it was first built 50 years ago with its 4 models of houses, I suspect would have been the perfect example of ticky-tacky little boxes. But 20 years later, when we bought our house, the landscaping and remodels had transformed it into a much more pleasing place. But I didn't really notice, driving out of the neighborhood to go to work. Only when I started to walk did I notice things, like how many people had moved to drought resistant landscaping, how people used paint to distinguish their homes, how none of the remodels were identical. And now I have discovered I actually find the various lawn ornaments that range from lovely to simply hilarious fun, because all of them give me something to look at and smile.
I'm with both of you. My neighborhood has been pretty boring until recently.
On top of not liking to exercise, I can't really walk very far due to lingering back issues. The icing is that I'm agoraphobia and simply cannot get myself out the door. I do okay when I'm with someone, but who wants a walking buddy that can only go 10 minutes?
When I am out, I like focusing on plants and animals. I enjoyed the roses near an appointment when I had to take uber.
One thing I miss about living in NYC (or any actual city) is walking around and looking at things! I live at the top of a steep ridge and walking around the neighborhood can be challenging (a lot of people go down the hill and walk around the flat part but I find that kind of boring, though now maybe with my injuries I should give it a try). Plus it's dull because things are the same from day to day. I suppose I could do proper hiking but I hate having to drive there first--I guess I should just get over myself.
I have never been a hiker, or even someone who enjoyed exercise in general (I did love the water aerobics, outdoors, in very warm weather, bobbing around to 50s and 60s rock), but connecting these walks with taking photos and posting about what I see has really made a difference in my attitude. My neighborhood when it was first built 50 years ago with its 4 models of houses, I suspect would have been the perfect example of ticky-tacky little boxes. But 20 years later, when we bought our house, the landscaping and remodels had transformed it into a much more pleasing place. But I didn't really notice, driving out of the neighborhood to go to work. Only when I started to walk did I notice things, like how many people had moved to drought resistant landscaping, how people used paint to distinguish their homes, how none of the remodels were identical. And now I have discovered I actually find the various lawn ornaments that range from lovely to simply hilarious fun, because all of them give me something to look at and smile.
I'm with both of you. My neighborhood has been pretty boring until recently.
On top of not liking to exercise, I can't really walk very far due to lingering back issues. The icing is that I'm agoraphobia and simply cannot get myself out the door. I do okay when I'm with someone, but who wants a walking buddy that can only go 10 minutes?
When I am out, I like focusing on plants and animals. I enjoyed the roses near an appointment when I had to take uber.