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Dense But Anonymous


 

First things first. For all the folks who read yesterday’s blog thinking I was legitimately going to reveal shocking truths - - my apologies. I say this because it got a healthy amount of clicks but absolutely zero comments, which usually means that readers have walked away thinking, “meh” or “aw, heck.”

For real and possibly shocking weather, it sounds like today might be the real thing. And I sincerely hope not because I yet again find myself in a house without a basement.


*****

Have you seen this map lately?


Yes, it’s a WalletHub map. I have just about made my peace with their periodic announcements about where we live and my lack of confidence in what they are doing (and why.) But, as far as I can tell, they aren’t doing any significant harm. I don’t think any community has dropped off the map as a result of their endless surveys. 

We’ve probably all seen the online trolls who hate local leadership and respond to any positive rankings as proof positive that WalletHub is trash. This is, of course, right up there with scorning a food reviewer because they like vanilla ice cream and you don’t. 

My question is pretty much: if WalletHub didn’t exist, would the world be worse? Do they meet any legitimate need?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Anyway, the WalletHub topic du jour is happiness. Who are the happiest cities in America this time?

A conversation on Bluesky caught my eye. (You’ll note that Fremont, California comes in at number one.)

[boggles] How? Are the Fremont Tesla plant's repeated air and sewer discharge violations somehow medicating the population with lithium or something?

The next few responses:

  • Dammit, I'm going to have to click through to see how they measure this aren't I?

  • Methodology is so important.

  • Given that Columbia, MD also ranks highly it's based on a poll of people who are really into dense but anonymous suburbia.


Wait - - what?

Given that Columbia, MD also ranks highly it's based on a poll of people who are really into dense but anonymous suburbia.


Yes, Columbia made the list, at number 13. You can check out the write-up here:


But I can’t get that casual comment out of my head. “…people who are really into dense but anonymous suburbia.”

Would you say that’s an apt description? I live in a quadroplex community and we’ve never known many of our neighbors. Is that what we are? Dense but anonymous?

Do we need to make t-shirts?


Six am foolishness using Custom Ink website




I prefer to think we’re largely shy folks who live in a neighborhood we can afford. But I wondered what you would think. 

I’ve seen plenty of less than charitable characterizations of Columbia over the years, including “car-dependent suburban hellscape”. But this one made me think. I’d love your feedback.

Stay safe today.






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  1. Julia A. McCreadyMarch 16, 2026 at 9:31 AM

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