It’s a question I’ve been asked a few times since moving here from the UK, and I guess it can be answered here, and expanded into:
Why do you stay living in Boston? What keeps you here?
I’d like to read other peoples answers too.
I first came to America for a 3 week trip in May 2002, I spent two weeks at my office in Lynnfield, and stayed in a hotel there, then spent the last week in Boston itself and Chicago, visiting friends.
I felt at home in Boston, much more so than Chicago. I couldn’t place why really.
I came back that November for a proper holiday and spent 3 more weeks here. I travelled to New York, but spent most of it in Boston again.
The city itself was fun, I felt much more comfortable with Bostons twisting roads and rotaries (otherwise known as roundabouts) than I did in New York or Chicago. I found Bostonians friendly, whereas Chicago seemed almost fake. If someone in Boston asked how I was doing, then it was because they wanted to know, in Chicago, it was because it was expected of them and fake.
Of course, to many people here, this is considered rude behaviour, but to me, from Europe, its pretty typical :)
In general, I guess I like Boston because it is so much more European than anywhere else in America … it has a certain level of history, some fun neighbourhoods.
I moved here in April 2003, and have lived in Jamaica Plain ever since … with the pond, the shops, cafes, pubs, restaurants … it has everything you could want, in walking distance, yet is also small and compact enough to feel like a town. When we move to Lynn in August, I’m going to miss it …
So, why do you like Boston?