djofraleigh: blog 
djofraleigh's blog
how far is it to the country? changing times...
Published Jul. 19, 2008
It took 5 minutes to get out of town when I was young.
Out of town being in the presence of trees, fenced pastures, sight of a cow, chicken, tractor and NO retail businesses other than a gas mart/general store.
When I came to Raleigh in 1970, I could be OUT OF TOWN in five minutes, ten at the most. I can drive 45 minutes now and NOT be out of town if I drive west, for Cary, Apex, Chapel Hill, Durham have blended into essentially one city.
Trees are everywhere in this city. Coming into RDU, it is mostly treetops you see out the airplane window. Cattle, I don't think they even keep them on NCSU farms anymore. Remember the scenic view the current Vet School property used to pose? Barns, cattle, pond, green rolling pasture were there at the edge of town.
Some of you live out in the country, have to drive into town to work, and shop, but you have the land and some nature. Hope you enjoy it. Air conditioning has stolen the outdoors from southerners. The heat used to force us from our homes all afternoon. That's when porches were used. I went through Oakwoods after leaving the cemetary last week, and NOT ONE PORCH had a person on it. It was the afternoon, and perfect for sitting out to get cool. Windows closed, A/C running. Porches seemed more for show.
TV & air conditioning have made great changes to how we live in and about our homes. I know we sit more, a lot more, and we have learned to eat in the living room while sitting. Another change has come with communications -- the cell phone and computer. We talk a lot more, with a lot more people, who are not there in front of us, yet, I suspect, we talk less with those around us in the house.
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This is relaxing to me, and I get so caught up in just living that I forget how wonderful the outdoors really is.
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