I did a drive by of the malden house, and it was fine, the neighborhood was quiet, but I didn't feel calm. It was up on top a hill, with short trees. It felt exposed and stark. Also, when I returned the commerical size of malden, the people didn't look happy and the business didn't look fresh. Driving back I thought about it, and I came to two conclusions.

I want to live somewhere pretty and calm. That doesn't mean that it has to be in the middle of nowhere. I find Somerville pretty, and mostly calm (it could be calmer.)

I think I want to live near 93/95 because I'm comfortable with the places those arteries take me. I also don't hate somerville and I think if I lived off the end of 1 I would feel very cut off from the places I'm used to.

Since this is the "forever" house, I'm more than allowed to be picky, even if it's on gut reactions. It does mean the likelyhood of use finding it this cycle gets lower, but only time will tell and it's been pushing us to work on our clutter and our house. I think it's also been forcing us to think about our finances and retirement goals. So it's all good.