So! Just In Case You Wondered...Raleigh Durham IS the Smartest City in America

Don't you just love a good survey? I mean a survey that makes you look G_O_O_D! Who knew anyone was interested in which city in America was the SMARTEST?! Seriously?!?

Actually, as I read the criteria I KNEW we were in the running...

Two main criteria:

1. EDUCATION
2. INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT

I'm listening....

EDUCATION = how many degrees...oh, I know we are contenders

INTELLECTUAL ENVIRONMENT = Oh just wait....

1. # of non-fiction books purchased - "intellectual vigor" don't you know...
   
2. ratio of institutions of higher learning - pffftttt...no contest...
3. eligible voters who voted in the last election
   = political engagement

I'm sorry, I know it sounds like I am laughing or disbelieving or something. The truth is that while I am happy to find things that elevate my city (well, that, in itself, is disingenuous since we are three or more cities here) to greater stature, still, I do find humor in this sort of thing.

Don't get me wrong...I love living in Chapel Hill/Carrboro, smallish cities near a bigger city, Durham, near the state capitol , Raleigh; where I can take a college level class at UNC or have a picnic in the Duke Gardens. I can catch the Stanley cup winning Hurricanes hockey team or the world class rock band U2 at the RBC Center. I can see Taylor Hicks in Grease or Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson at the DPAC. Did I mention that 5 star restaurants abound here?

I like having an airport nearby where I can get on something other than a prop plane or even get a non-stop flight to London. I like being 2 hours to the beach or two hours to the mountains...I can spend the weekend at my family beach house or my friends mountain place and still be home for work on Monday.

Life here is pretty sweet...but "better because we are smarter"? Not so much...