Why I love suburbia & Raanana/My pitch for Aliyah

Are we North American Olim simply Hedonists(beach, beautiful women, great hummus) or do we define ourselves as Idealists leaving the good life and heading to the Jewish State?

Who really cares.... At least we are here

What sparked my mind to write the following story was because of something I experienced yesterday:

My friend Mo Septimus who was on his way home from a conference in Copenhagen saw some grapefruits that fell off of my tree in my backyard. He picks up one grapefruit, eats it and says that he just experienced something "spiritual". For city kids, the smallest things for us can be such big deals for others.

Being brought up in Westchester County in New York State, a wonderful suburban area, has shaped my outlook on future decision making for living in an Urban/Suburban area. Playing tackle football on half an acre property in the winer, swinging around in tire swings hanging from 50 foot trees and playing pick up roller hockey was basically my childhood. Life in the suburbs until the age of 16 was probably better to any other type of lifestyle. You got the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the suburban life but still be close to NYC. From birth till the age of 16, you thought from your head and were somewhat rational. You didn't think about girls, drugs or rock N' roll. You just enjoyed life. As you approach the age of 18, you begin to make simply retarded decisions. You get caught bringing girls(even worse non-jewish girls) back to your house, smoking pot in the backyard or maybe even stealing the nice Suburban for a spin.

As you finish college/army, you begin to become more rational. You begin to understand the value of money, value of family and concepts like "bro's before hoe's". You opt to date the good jewish girl down the street(who wont sleep with you but you see it as an investment for the long term) as opposed to fooling around with the loose catholic girls. You begin to see yourself bring home nice girls who you introduce to your folks as opposed to sneaking the one night stands down the stairs and into the guest room. Your former "Id" begins to mature into a "Super-Ego". Similarly, you understand to formulate your idea of a future family. As a result of this, you begin to appreciate the Suburban life.

But don't us Jews like to live with people of our kind? Where is the Zionism?

Raanana is the perfect bridge between the comfortable suburban life + Zionism + a friendly "Oleh" culture. This morning I ran out of milk for my coffee so I took my crusier bike to the makolet(bodega) down the street where I have an account and a personal relationship with the shop owner. I threw my carton of milk and Shoko bi Sakit(chocolate milk in a bag) on my bike rack and headed home. My neighbors are friendly and I know just about everybody in my area.

I think most people enjoy living around people of their similar socio-econimcal level. I like living around people who are similar to me. Instead of waking up and seeing Hasidim protest against new parking lots or Intel or seeing riots in Eastern Jerusalem, I wake up to pure capitalists who drive Cayenne's and enjoy life.

Is Raanana living in a bubble?

Yeah but who cares. It's the good life......