ramblings? I just posted this and you responded within seconds? Are you sure you don't know the people here with just as full lives?
forget what I said. You need to be here


You are in for one big surprise!!!!
I am sure most people here have their own rationalization for wanting to stay here but in order to get a good picture of reality you must hear from people who use to live in Philly and now live in Boston, NY, Chicago and San Francisco. Crime is an issue there but not nearly so much as here. They have so many outdoor cafes and the optimism is soo much better then here.
I am not sure what motivates someone to move here but I think the violence and potential for violence is worse then I have ever seen it. I think its the most depressive place in the US for a big city . The history is cool in some places in CC and atmosphere could be as trendy if not more so in certain areas but you always have to be alert. More and more homeless abound and in fact many now sleep under bridges. I see many people here who don't een speak our language with earings and roam around in gangs in cars and pickups looking to antagonize or sell . I have personal experience of two shootings. Of course the real stats are 1000 shootings in Philly each year for the last few years and growing although the murder rate is declining just this year. More and more people don't have jobs, living with more then 4 buddies just to be able to afford rent. -This is not so bad but many don't have jobs and it makes the possibility of dysfunction and crime with people who are transient a very decent probability and real in many places. Of course if you can ignore no good quality air too then you better understand what kind of self destructive mode your in. You would be best suited to ask ex Philadelphians the question you asked.
The reason the bad things are allowed to happen is because in my mind the politicians don't care. They love the status Quo.