Lots of people in Raleigh, where I work, ask me that, meaning, “Why in the world do you live in Durham?”, with the added unasked question: “And if you have to live in Durham County, why live pretty much downtown, where all the violence is?” James Lileks, writing today about why he lives in an urban core, pretty much answers the question for me:

I’m sure there are people who, like myself, will chose to live in the city for many reasons, although I don’t live where I live because I can walk to the co-op and carry my curds home in a hemp sack. … I live here because the convenience and ease of living outweighs the drawbacks, and because I like the history, the solid houses, the settled nature of things.

I love the part about the co-op and the hemp sack.

In the last few days, though, the barbarians have stormed the gates of our little garden spot. The neighborhood listserv has been peppered with posts about hearing gunshots, finding gang tags on cars and buildings, etc. The answer to all this, at least on the listserv, is for people of good intentions to get together and talk about it and then take their concerns to our city’s leaders. But some say that, much as they love diversity and moved to Durham because of it, the protection of their families comes first (Is it just me, or is there something a bit racist in that sentiment?).

My neighbors can go to all the meetings they want. Me, I’m going to Wal-Mart to buy a shotgun.

UPDATE: Totally coincidentally, a friend just emailed me a link to a blog called “Stuff White People Like,” a spoof page that included this today about why white people love to live in gentrified old neighborhoods in the urban core:

White people like to live in these neighborhoods because they get credibility and respect from other white people for living in a more “authentic” neighborhood where they are exposed to “true culture” every day. So whenever their friends mention their home in the suburbs or richer urban area, these people can say “oh, it’s so boring out there, so fake. In our neighborhood, things are just more real.” This superiority is important as white people jockey for position in their circle of friends.