A few weeks ago, right about the time days were filled with getting kids ready for the first day of school, the 100-day mark of living in the south suburbs came and went. And for some reason, no one in my family of us noticed.
That may be normal for some, but not in our house. Milestones, anniversaries, appointments, anything that can be attached to a calendar is usually a big deal and earmarked with big red circle.
This was one I figured would have some significance, right at summer’s end and when the trappings of the city we once knew would start to fade. I expected the kids to ask to go back to the city, the parks they loved, the restaurant we went to every week. I expected to miss the Chicago vibe and the energy from living with it.
Apparently, the fondness for the city faded so quickly no one even noticed. Day No. 100 came and went. So did No. 120.
It wasn’t because our lives changed dramatically in Orland Park. Schedules are just as packed as ever. Wait times in traffic haven’t disappeared, just replaced by trips around the neighborhood for the best prices. The kids still have as many activities with piano and ukulele still taking up Saturday mornings. Commute times to work have even gone up.
It turns out it wasn’t what we did that made settling into suburban life so easy, it was how we did it.
It’s the slower-paced lifestyle we now have that has us less attached to dates on a calendar and more interested in trips to the park or visits with neighbors across the street. We’re less focused on finishing a to-do list and more on enjoying what’s around us. Life has gotten smaller, but still feels as big as ever.
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We’re less stressed out. We’re less anxious. We’re sleeping better. We’re playing more. We’re grilling out more. We’re eating s’mores more.
It’s probably the s’mores.
Now, I know most families don’t bookmark 100 days. It’s a milestone referenced by elected officials and their first four months in office. But when we moved into our house in May I wondered how long it would take before we felt comfortable and how much it would change our lives. It turns out, it took no time at all, and its rejuvenated our lives.
Other observations from the first 100 days in the south suburbs:
Lawn care is a serious business out here. Not only do homeowners outsource the work of mowing and edging to professionals, they take it to the next level with hedges and trees creatively trimmed, some sculpted into shapes of mushrooms, lollipops and spiral-shaped corkscrews. It’s more than landscaping, its more like a yard manicure…. a yard-i-cure. I haven’t bought into the shrubbery Tom Foolery yet, but I am starting to get lawn-envy. Those lawn pros work fast.
Loyalty abounds when it comes to grocery stores. And pizzerias. When folks around here find one they like, they stick with them. When Mariano’s moved into my old North Side neighborhood in Chicago, everyone flocked to it like the “next big thing” had arrived. Out here, when the chain opened, the reception felt a bit more standoff-ish. Residents seem to take a “wait and see” approach, standing by stalwarts like Jewel, Walt’s and Joe and Frank’s. And when it comes to pizza, everyone has their favorite and they’re not swayed by a flier in the mail for a discounted pie. It’s Vito and Nick’s, Aurelio’s, Fox’s, and a litany of other places that end with an apostrophe ‘s.’
There are Cubs fans on the South Side. Really, there are. And there are three houses with front-yard flags to prove it. White Sox flags? There’s not a one on my block.
My parallel parking prowess is fading. Fast. With parking lots for every stop, the one driving skill I used to boast about is starting slip from a lack of practice. The closest I’ve come recently is backing up to an island at a gas station to matchup the driver’s side access to the pump. Sadly, the rust was on display. After I turned off the ignition and walked to remove the gas cap, I realized I had to backup to get closer. City life never felt so far away.
Steve Zimmerman is a copy editor/designer for the baiduhai who moved to the south suburbs from Chicago’s northwest side in May. His email address is [email protected].