I once lived in one of the neighborhoods that planners are always screaming we don't have enough of. It was a clean and friendly neighborhood full of hardworking and very nice people that kept-up their modest homes. These people were of all races, sexual orientations and political persuasions. We lived well together. This is the kind of neighborhood that had service alleys with rear facing garages, large friendly covered front porches, small lots and neighborhood amenities like some corner businesses. I believe it to be exactly what the new-urbanist neighborhood Nazis seem to desire to recreate at 10 times the price. All was in harmony in my little neighborhood, except the residents suddenly don’t seem to be "the right" kind of people for such a nice place.
In that neighborhood I spent much time right there on that front porch. I met my neighbors. I fed their dogs scraps. I planted flowers and plants. I observed my neighbor’s homes when they were out of town. I talked to their kids as they came and went from school or sports. I got to know my most of my neighbors and I got to know who was up to no good in the neighborhood. I once saved a lady from being mauled by a stray dog by tossing a brat at it and giving her shelter on my front porch until the Animal Control Officer arrived. I drank beer there on that porch. I never got drunk, but I did enjoy a tall cold one or three about once a week with my wife on that porch. There I talked on the phone to people I loved.
And I grilled there. In all four seasons - I grilled and I and never once burnt the house down - not even when I drank beer and grilled. Try that some time it is a wonderful combination: Grilling and drinking beer.
I once even had the gall to clean my guns, after a day on the range, on that very porch and surprisingly people still stopped and talked to me without fear that I was going to gun them down - as most Republicans are wont to do once we have access to a gun.
Upon reflection I think that if somebody from city hall had sent me a letter or stopped by in person, God forbid, and tried to tell me I couldn't grill on my front porch I think I would have had a major conniption fit with that person, that person's boss, mother and personal savior. I think that your energies would be better focused elsewhere.
With planners It often comes down to: We can’t possibly allow the unwashed masses (who don’t appreciate the universal planners’ gift to their fellow man of intrusion into their personal affairs) to live unmolested.
Sometimes I am embarrassed by the classism and sense of "I know what is best for you" I see in my professional peers.
Viva la Grill!
