A friend of mine asked me the other day what makes Philadelphia special, and why would someone want to live here. The question of where to live is such a personal one, though Philly certainly offers a plethora of features that many would find desirable. Some such features include a thriving and bustling urban scene (5th largest city by population in the US); a strong employer base (Comcast, Vanguard, Toll Brothers, to name just a few); easy access to other major cities (NYC, DC, Boston, Pittsburgh) as well as to the beach AND the mountains; and rich cultural, historical and art institutions.
But probably most overlooked, and most surprising, is Philadelphia’s people. Let’s face it, Philadelphians have gotten our unfair share of bad press and hard knocks, perhaps something to do with long stretches of bitter athletic underdog-dom, or shining examples of notorious bad behavior such as throwing snowballs at Santa Claus… But beneath that gritty we-don’t-give-a-crap exterior are some of the warmest and loyal folks you’ll ever meet. The Philadelphians I know have heart, which means there’s a genuine love of our neighbor that spurs on and goes hand-in-hand with the don’t-mess-with-my-neighbor tough guy routine. We are curious about and welcoming to our visitors, but we’re not going to put on a fake smile to make you feel better about being here. And while there might be no sugar coating, there’s certainly a soft, melting chocolate center that you need to dig a little deeper to find.
After growing up in Northeast Philadelphia for my entire childhood, traveling the world for a few decades and swearing I’d never return, here I am back home and I couldn’t be happier. It has been so easy to make friends and new connections, and to build real relationships. I can’t think of a better place to raise my family and help people find homes.
