While being at home is an important part of daily life, getting out and doing things in public places is also important to cultivate community and civic life. While the individual choices we make about where to go and what to do won't change the world, small acts like patronizing a locally owned business will make a difference to the local economy.
A couple of years ago, I was with a group of friends (couples with children) and we wanted to go out on a Friday night. Despite my suggestions to go to a local restaurant here in Rocky Point, the group decided to trek to a nearby "chain restaurant." Our group ended up spending several hundred dollars on food and drink that Friday night. And because we were at a national chain, 80% of what we spent left our community. If we'd made the local choice, 80% of what we spent would have stayed in our town.
The locally owned restaurants, coffee shops, and bars in our area are all public spaces and meeting places. Public spaces are where you run into your neighbors and friends. And if you frequent these places, you'll make new friends.
