I’ve fallen in love with Boston. No question about it. This past year has been one of the best of my life.

I’ve also fallen in love with city living. And I mean real city living. No car, no traffic or parking anxiety, lots of walking, and public transit for those times when the walk would be a bit excessive, the shoes less than comfortable, or the weather uncooperative. I do not want to return to a car culture!

Our wonderful “small house” urban experiment has been fabulous, but a tad on the small side. I want a deck and a grill, a kitchen that holds more than four vegetables and two people at the same time, at least one more room for my office, and a little more storage.

If you have read my previous post, you also know we decided we needed a “permanent” home base from which to wander.

So where should we plant ourselves?

We combed the Greater Boston Area, and I mean greater! We had a great list of musts and wants. While that list kept evolving as we learned from numerous visits to townhouses, condos, and a few homes, our number one requirement, regardless of every temptation, was to have easy, walking access to public transit so we could get back into the city readily, frequently, and without driving. Last week, our one year Urban Experiment officially came to an end and we began a whole new chapter by moving into a townhouse. Another first for us. Our number one requirement is satisfied by a commuter rail station right down the road. I walk on a wooded road along a gushing stream to reach it. There is a state park handy and we’ve begun to explore its hiking trails, beaches, and boating. I made three trips to Boston in the first week and was thrilled to walk away from the house without car keys as I’ve been doing for the last year. The train ride is easy, pleasant, and long enough to actually get some work done. Our canoe even fits through the bulkhead door. Last, but not least, the new grill arrived when we did and we are putting the deck to good use

Have we discovered the best of both worlds? Can we still consider the city to be an extension of our living space? Who knows.

What I do know is that my thirst for new experiences continues. The next several months will undoubtedly be filled with exploring our new environs and decorating our new home, whenever I am not traveling primarily by train to visit clients in Boston and beyond. In addition, I will learn to sail this summer thanks to the lake just through the woods.  After “the honeymoon,” it will be a pleasure to be able to lock up and leave without thinking about the grass, snow, or intruders. The world is still my oyster and I am eager to pursue new adventures near and far. I don’t believe in bucket lists because they tend to create more obligation and disappointment than anything else. But I do believe in new experiences. If you haven’t tried something, what are you waiting for? Life is short!

Want to read about my urban experiment from the beginning? Start with Part 1!