Best place is here, but the time was in the 1960s. Cleveland Heights, though a suburb, has some of the aspects of a small town - still does.
As a kidlet in the 60s, I could walk or bike to stores, library, movie theater, school, church, friends houses, or explore the wilderness of the Shaker Lakes just a few blocks away. Lots of other kids to play with, porch to sit on and watch the world walk by, neighbors who all knew each other and gave a hand when needed.

Now the big box store mentality means the grocery store and pharmacy are farther away, local stationery, hardware store and bakery non-existant and the dangers of modern life make the places we played and the things we did while playing taboo. If someone today had a kindergartener walk a mile and a half to school on her own, as I did, they'd call child protective services.

There is a specific character to the place that's still in evidence. Politically active, aware and inclined to be activists, we were among the first suburbs to seek integration and do it well, get into recycling, and Lord help us, declare a "nuclear free zone" (though what that actually means is a mystery to me). There's a camaraderie from living through the fierce winters and reveling in the glorious summer.

I've lived all but a couple years in the same place. My house is three blocks from the one I grew up in, and faces the same direction. In a picture from here, I can tell by the light what time of day and time of year it was taken. I know the smells of each time of year, and all the weather peculiarities. What makes it "best" is a strong sense of place, and belonging to this place. Grounded. Home.

Joanne in the Heights of Cleveland