"One of the great, but often unmentioned, causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment"- Alain de Botton

     Above: Long Beach, Long Island.

     Ever since I tried looking for an apartment in Manhattan I became obsessed with cities and the living situations that encompass them.  I would walk into apartments and take a look around and try to hide the expression on my face that probably read, "I rather live at home forever sharing a room with my younger brother and three ferrets than live in this mouse hole."  

    The quality of space is what defines people here in Manhattan or in any other city. You are successful when you don't have to walk 6 blocks to do your laundry.  You are successful when your kitchen and living room aren't the same space.  You are successful when you don't need a roomate to split the bills.  Housing breaks up the people. So what would happen if we had equality living?  What if the quality of space was just as good for the financier living uptown and the artist living downtown?

 I found Alain De Bottom's text at the MOMA store. In my attempt to figure out what makes living a mouse hole "ok" or living in a mansion fabulous he brings the question back to you, "changing the way we think about our homes, our streets, and ourselves."

Below: Tijuana, Mexico

 *all the photos I have taken in the past couple of years.