One of the nice things about living and working in Philly is the convienence of a walking city.   Over the years I’ve lived in Oakland, Los Angeles, Vancouver – all on the west coast.   While at Occidental College my freshman year, some of us took a “Culture & Technology” course that transitioned into a course titled “Autotopia:  The Automobile and Los Angeles”.  This course reinforced the connection between cars and the sprawling cities on the west compared to the pre-automobile cities of the east.

Last April (21st on my 31st birthday to be exact), Jay and I made the move from LA to Philly and for the first time in my life I wasn’t connected to my car.  We moved into Northern Liberties and worked in Northern Liberties and drank in Northern Liberties and ate in Northern Liberties and anywhere else we went it was quick cab ride or a light walk.

Over the course of the 11 months we’ve been in Philly, I’ve driven less than any of the previous 11 months since I was 16.  The freedom of car keys is an amazing feeling but the freedom of not actually needing your car makes you go hmmmmmm.   Especially after spending 9 years (29% of my life) living in Los Angeles, this freedom led me to bring my camera on my walks…