Welcome new readers! Just a quick note to let you know that this blog makes a lot more sense if you start here and read this.Yesterday the Mister had a potluck lunch at work. What fun, right? His work is always doing super fun stuff like this, so obviously I was jealous! Lucky for me, he decided to rub it in my face even more he signed himself (meaning US) up to make these honey cheesecake bars (Note: this time I used half honey, half sugar free maple syrup. We also mixed 1 tablespoon of cinnamon into the cheesecake batter — the result? DELICIOUS!).

And of course, we didn’t have any of the ingredients on hand. We decided to make a night of it. We took advantage of the nice weather and walked to the store for all the ingredients we needed. We had fun chatting, walking hand in hand and sharing time together enjoying the great outdoors. We spent the evening baking the bars and stealing licks of batter (and kisses) in between. Of course the Mister received rave reviews for his bar and he proudly took all the credit told everyone that we made them together.

The whole scenario sounds a bit picturesque and perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it was. And I have my corner store to thank. The story wouldn’t sound so great if I had said we hopped in the Hyundai and drove to Giant Eagle, would it? Exactly. This week I am thankful that I live in a walkable neighborhood.

I love that within only a mile of my house, I have dozens of restaurants, a couple coffee shops, a pharmacy and a grocery store. The Mister and I were talking about fantasizing about buying a house the other day. We mentioned how much we love our neighborhood and that wherever we end up buying a house, we want to make sure it’s within walking distance to a shopping center, a coffee shop, museums, restaurants, etc. I take for granted how much having these things close by plays into my quality of life.

Even if it takes a bit longer, there’s something to be said about taking the extra minute to walk to your corner bakery to enjoy a pastry and coffee. I feel as if it gives me a sense of belonging and that I’m really part of the neighborhood.

How walkable is your neighborhood or city? Did it make the Top 10 list?

According to an article on Green Building Elements, “the typical D.C. resident walks a few blocks to the Metro each morning and then walks a few more blocks from the Metro to work. He may walk to a restaurant at lunchtime. In the evening, he walks to the Metro to meet friends or go about his evening errands. Over the course of a day, this typical D.C. resident will have walked several miles.”

Does this sound like your lifestyle?

Take a moment to find out your city or neighborhoods Walk Score. Walk Score helps people find walkable places to live. “Walk Score calculates the walkability of an address by locating nearby stores, restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle-not how pretty the area is for walking.”

From the Walk Score Web site:

Why Walking Matters:

Walkable neighborhoods offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.

Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood. Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15-45.

Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.

More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car!

Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It’s easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don’t need to drive between destinations.

An article on the Environmental Protection Web site explains,  “as Americans look to reduce their environmental impact and ease reliance on cars, the appeal of walkable communities continues to grow. People increasingly value the convenience and connectedness that vibrant, walkable communities offer — and the health, safety and environmental benefits are icing on the cake.”

How walkabale is your city? (image credit: thecityfix.com/)

What is your Walk Score (mine is an 80!)? What are you thankful for today?

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