Yesterday, in my journal, I complained a bit about urban traffic. However, there are good reasons to venture into cities and go through the challenges of traffic. Last night was a good reminder of why we continue to be drawn to urban centers.

There are people who live in urban areas whom we love. We are visiting my sister and having a wonderful time telling stories and remembering our many shared experiences. The inconveniences of traffic are minor compared to the joys of being with family. We had several hours yesterday to visit with my niece and her daughter. I love being an uncle and a great uncle. I enjoy being with my family. And I know why my sister lives where she does. Being just a few minutes away from her daughter and her daughter’s family is a joy that is well worth any inconvenience.

There are also services and activities in cities that don’t exist outside of urban corridors. My sister and niece don’t live in Portland, Oregon proper, but rather in a nearby suburb. They deal with urban traffic every day. They have adjusted in ways that I have not. When I suggested that we go out for dinner, there was a long list of possibilities. The immediate area is filled with a variety of restaurants. Making a choice was challenging. We decided to sample a food court.

Across from the City Hall of Beaverton, Oregon, is a block with just a few buildings. The rest of the area is filled with many food carts. Most are trailers that have been moved in and hooked up to water and electricity. In the center of about 30 carts are picnic tables, umbrellas, open spaces for children to play, and benches for sitting. Each food cart offers a different type of food. We walked around the court viewing menus of burgers and hot dogs, sushi, gyros, tacos, waffles, Thai food, fish & chips, bubble tea, ice cream, and many other types of food. We made our choices from a couple of carts and took our food to the tables where we were surrounded by people enjoying the pleasant summer evening, good food, and each other. People were speaking a half dozen languages. There were lots of children laughing and playing.

As we enjoyed our dinner, I realized that we live in an area without the amazing diversity that was surrounding us. It wasn’t just the delightful choice of different foods from around the world. It was the gathering of people of all kinds of different ethnic backgrounds. Diversity is delightful, and our small area is a bit more homogeneous.

I know that such a gathering place is the result of careful urban planning and measured support. I suspect that the land where the food court is located is owned by the city and that the rent for the carts' parking spaces is reasonable. There must be a system of providing for the common areas, the restrooms, and other infrastructure required for such a food court. The people who staff the carts need fair wages, health care, and other benefits. Although we didn’t see a law enforcement presence, the safety of those sharing the space must be assured, and some rules need to be enforced to ensure the system operates effectively.

The area where the food court is located has many apartment buildings. People live much closer together than in the neighborhood where we have our home. Large urban populations require more housing density. I remember the years we lived in Chicago in apartments. I found being so close to others and having so little space to be challenging. I was not used to being on top of other people all of the time. However, I learned the skills it took to become an apartment dweller during my educational career. Living in apartments enabled us to be close to the University and all of its services. The large number of people in a small space made for opportunities for a great variety of restaurants and shops. There were art fairs and urban events that are not possible in places where there are fewer people.

I’m sure that there were more food carts in that one urban block than there are in the entire county where I live. The food cart court is one of several within a small area. I’m confident that there are more food carts in the western suburbs of Portland than there are in the entire state of South Dakota, where we lived for 25 years. There are activities, services, and experiences that occur only in urban areas.

I feel fortunate to live where we do. I continue to be a small-town kid at heart. I’m more comfortable in places with less traffic and more individual space. I don’t have to deal with strangers daily, unlike people who live in dense urban areas. I hope, however, that I will continue to visit and appreciate cities. I don’t subscribe to the myth embraced by some of my neighbors that cities are more dangerous and should be feared. Cities can be safe places for people, and communities can be found in urban areas. People don’t have to be spread out to live in peace.

Most of the people in the world live in urban areas. Many cities are larger and more diverse than Portland, Oregon. I’ve had the joy of visiting some of those cities. Each has its unique character.

We leave Portland this morning to visit other places, and most of this trip will be traveling through areas with fewer people and less traffic. I am, however, glad that we have had our urban experiences, and I know that we will be back.