D, LPT, and myself went for an idyllic drive on Sunday after doing some shopping and fountain diving at The Summit, "a shopping experience with amenities that reflect the needs of the mind, body and spirit." Basically, it's the mall turned inside-out, so it's a million more times difficult to navigate with a stroller. After that, we decided to take advantage of the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere and go visit the newest development taking up good empty space, Norton Commons. Now, Norton Commons is not your typical sprawling subdivision, with gigantic housing monstrosities that are all exactly alike (or punched from the same 3 or 4 molds), garages that will hold 4 cars or more, and huge circular driveways that will deposit passengers right in front of cut-leaded-glass doors.

No, Norton Commons is a different demon altogether. Remember Mayberry? It was a quaint little town where everything was within walking distance, and everyone knew everyone else. Homes were right next to stores, and porches were right up on the sidewalks, so that you could carry on conversations with passers-by without shouting. People were friendly, and smiled and said hello. Everyone was white, and the most offensive criminal was the town drunk who locked himself up regularly. Women knew their places, and no one ever had to leave town for anything. Who wouldn't want to live there?

Well, my friend, times have changed. Personally, it would creep me out to live in an area where the only people I saw every day looked exactly like me, not to mention the damage it would do to my socio-political outlook. The subdivision looks like a movie set, but unsettleingly so, like The Truman Show. The houses are pretty, but ultimately, there is a falseness about it, and the idea of never needing to leave your neighborhood would drive me berserk. There were already restaurants, shops, a dermatologist, plans for a drugstore, a market, a pediatrician, a dry cleaner, and probably anything else you could need. I'll admit, not using the car is green, but using that subdivision land to farm and instead living downtown where that community element already exists would be greener.

But what would they do if they ran into a black person?