The idea for this site started when I got one of those pop-up “here’s a memory from 3 years ago” things on Facebook — it was a post of a railroad crossing that was almost identical to an Instagram photo I had posted that very morning. A quick scan through my social media posts revealed sights from my roads most taken: home-to-work; yoga studio-to-favorite cafe; neighborhood shopping area-to-home. Cringe..realization…my whole life is taking place within a 5-mile radius.

Initially this was not OK . I desperately resolved to change my routines, branch out, go more places, and do different things. But on the way home I couldn’t resist taking another shot of the railway crossing.

After weeks of introspectively identifying what interested me, what made me feel deeply happy, and what sparked me — the common thread was that they were all part of this 5 mile radius life: being known by name at the places I go to; getting where I need to go without a car; and making new discoveries in old things.

I can ride my bike the 3.5 miles to work for over ten years and every day its like a new trip. Thanks to my iPhone and the ability to produce photos everywhere, I hunt for things to take a picture of — raw material for a new photo quilt. When I look for something new I am never disappointed.

I’m hoping that by writing regularly,  I might stumble on insights and surprises about living a 5-mile radius life.