There's No Place Like Home Kotkin Summary

U.S. Census data shows that the drop in migration which was caused by the recession is starting to give way (Toppo, Overberg). In “There’s No Place Like Home”, Joel Kotkin points out that as people become more settled down in their communities the more they will heavily support local businesses. In the long run according to Kotkin, the development of committing to local communities will affect future politics and the workplace. Kotkin argues that many factors, such as suburbanization and an increased focus on family, have contributed to why people are becoming less nomadic. Although the recession caused many Americans to maintain stable living conditions, the idea of localism does not fully apply to me based on my personal background and relationship

At first, I barely knew anything about the Swope Parkway area besides new school being in the community. It took a while to feel at “home” based on the fact that almost no one lived on the block besides us. Everyone seemed to move on the block and then move away less than six months later. My family, however, lived at this house for 8 years. My older brother and I went to school around the corner. My father used to take us fishing in the area and my mother would take us to the Southeast Library around the corner. We were heavily involved in that community but we have all eventually moved from there. Now if given the option, none of my family members would go back to live at that house if our life depended on it.

After moving from the Swope Parkway area a little over a year ago, I have moved over four times within this last year. Before this year, I always seen moving to a new house as another five to ten plus years being invested into the new house. Now I hold absolutely no sentimental value to my current living arrangements. My clothing is still in its suitcases conveying just how ready I will be if I have to move