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stetrain01/15/20262 repliesview on HN

Maybe our built environment shouldn't consist solely of isolated houses in isolated gated communities where we drive our kids and sit in isolated cars in the school dropoff/pickup lines.


Replies

michaelrpeskin01/15/2026

This may just be me, but I hold the opposite view.

When I lived in a rural area with a few acres of property, I was much more social and engaged with my community.

Now I live at the edge of the city in a medium-high density townhouse area with no private outdoor space. Since I can never really get away from people and be alone, I also have no desire to go out and do things and engage with the community.

I think the variability is nice. If I can get home, relax, not have people around, have some private outdoor space, then I can recharge and have the energy to engage more.

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morshu900101/16/2026

Dense cities have the same problem or worse. There are even college towns with apartments where nobody talks to each other.

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