The title of my blog has always carried with it a faint whiff of irony. The suburbs aren’t made for walking, as anyone who’s lived in them will attest. And I’ve never hidden my mixed feelings about living in the suburbs.

However … the pandemic has reminded me of urban density, suburban space — and why we ended up with the suburbs in the first place.

People moved out of urban cores for green grass and family harmony, to stretch their legs and put some distance between themselves and their in-laws. But they also moved for their health and safety, for clean air and open space.

The suburbs have no urban buzz, no throngs surging up the avenue. But if you’re looking for social distancing, the suburbs are the right place to be.