For the past few months I've lived in Joliet, IL, much to my amusement considering the shit that I've talked about this place over the years. I'll be moving to DeKalb soon, and I'm surprised to discover there are a few things I'll miss about Joliet.
It's kind of a nexus. I currently live in an area that makes it feel like the suburbs, almost like Elmhurst, where I'd lived most of my life. But when I'm on my way somewhere, when I turn out of the neighborhood, I find myself looking out across a gorgeous marsh. I'm going to miss that view most of all, especially in the morning when the sun has yet to burn off the mists of the night before.
But then I can make another turn and find myself in a rundown part of town, some of it pretty bad. This is the part of town that gets Joliet its reputation. Aided, of course, by the movie referenced in the image above.
Take yet another turn, and holy shit, you're in an industrial park, billowing smoke stacks and all. Here's where Joliet gets most of its smell.
And another turn will bring you out into farmland, where the crop stands tall already.
That's all within the city limits. What other city can you say that covers that much diverse territory? And yes, I've driven past the prison. It looks oddly . . . pleasant.
From what I understand, DeKalb is mostly a college town. Technically Elmhurst was a college town, but these two aren't quite the same thing. The college is the only thing in DeKalb. Otherwise we're surrounded by farmland. Technically it's in Central Illinois. I'm moving to a different region. Weird.
That commute is going to fucking blow. The gas. Oh Jesus fuck, the gas.
It will be worth it in other ways.
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