Reply #7: Another vote for urban mixed use areas

[supernova]

And I'll plug Europe here again. I lived in Vienna for a short time when I was in college and traveled to other large cities in Europe. It was easy to get around with mass transit. Plenty of what you need within walking distance (about 1/4 to 1/2 mile) of neighborhood grocers, restaurants, book stores, tobacconists (where you buy tram tickets). and always within easy reach of the subway. The old people in my neighborhood where I lived as a student seemed very happy getting around town. We had a small grocery store, somewhere between a small grocer here and large convenience store. We had a couple of guest houses where you could eat and pass the time with your neighbors. A bookstore if you wanted something to read. The city center was about a 25 min tram ride away. It was green and lush and there were plenty of walkways. I wish I could go back there.