Tonight I went on my first bike ride of the season, along Lake Washington to Seward Park and back. It’s hard to articulate how good it was for my spirit. The thought that kept coming to mind was that I felt like a creature back in my natural habitat. Now I’m not meaning any disrespect to those of you who appreciate the convenience of the suburbs or the quietness of the country but I am a city girl through and through. Bike lanes, sidewalks, public parks, public transit, traffic circles, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity, neighborhood after neighborhood each with its own unique character – these are the things that make my heart happy. Even the traffic, sirens and dirtiness that are part of city living make life seem more real. Ultimately, my joy comes from other things but context is important. And our new place in Columbia City hits the mark on each of the before mentioned elements pretty well. I’m looking forward to an active spring and summer!
