Just Two John and Just Two Micah are conducting research in preparation for a documentary they’re planning on life here in Springfield. There’s a survey on their blog where you can chime in. I’m following Eric and Shoo’s lead by posting my random comments publicly.

Many people say there is nothing to do in Springfield. Do you agree with this statement? Please explain your answer.

There’s stuff to do, but things could be better. Part of that is our own fault. We can’t leave it to the radio stations to bring in bands and shows, because they’re always going to cater to their broad demographic. Sean Burns did a great job of bringing in lesser-known, but high quality bands to the Underground Tavern. Someone needs to pick up the slack and it could be you or me. The Hoogland is doing good things; Robbie Fulks is playing there next month and they’re presenting more options for live theatre.

Our family is big on parks and while I think Springfield parks are well maintained, I wish there was more variety in what was offered, recreation speaking. I really hope that Southwind Park is able to realize all of its objectives because it has the potential to be a real asset to the community.

The city does need another attraction besides the Lincoln sites. I don’t know if a casino or a minor league baseball team is the answer, but we need something else to entertain the locals and keep tourists here for an extra day.

A common complaint about Springfield is that there is a serious lack of shopping. Do you agree or disagree? Again, please offer an explanation to support your answer.

There’s plenty of retail for my taste, although I must say that walking through the mall at noon during a weekday is a dismal scene. I do miss Apple Tree dearly, but I can’t think of too many other stores that could improve my life just by coming to Springfield.

In your opinion, has Springfield gotten better in the last 10-20 years or has it gotten worse? Please explain your answer with some examples.

A bit of both. The infrastructure has been neglected and we’re paying the price for that now. Our top employer, the State of Illinois, is in disarray which is impacting the quality of life for a good number of people. The state fair is no longer the draw it once was. And all the single girls are out of luck because I’m married now.

The city has grown in positive ways, primarily because it has grown. Development is always good for a city. There’s more good locally-owned restaurants. The hospitals seem to be a point of pride as they continue to expand their services. New roads are being built. Hopefully the Q5 initiative will bear fruit and improve the economic condition here. Springfield could definitely use a new industry or two.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Why?

If I didn’t have children I’d love to live in NYC, at least for a few years and provided that I was earning a healthy salary. There’s just so much to do and experience there. Boston and Seattle would also be cool places to live.

I’m not sure where I’d want to live and raise my family. Maybe a smaller town in Wisconsin. I’d like my kids to have Wisconsin accents and it’s not too late for them to assimilate in this manner if we move there soon.

Why do you choose to live in Springfield? Give as many examples as necessary.

I’ve lived here my whole live, save for my undergrad years in Quincy, and most of my large family is here. Springfield is also a safe place to raise children.

One big reason to like Springfield, that I think some of us might take for granted, is that you can get anywhere in 15 minutes. I read a study one time that attempted to determine if a significant increase in income actually made people happier. The study focused on people in large cities who recently received a promotion or a new, more lucrative position. The findings revealed that it didn’t make people happier, but for a reason you might not have considered. When people started making more money, the first thing they wanted was a new house. Because new development has been pushed further and further away from the urban center, a new house means a longer commute. And long commutes are one of the biggest sources of stress and depression among working folks.

How would you describe the people of Springfield? Please use as many adjectives as possible.

If you run with the right crowd, the people of Springfield are friendly, considerate, health-minded and possess a good sense of humour. They love their families and generally try to do good by others. Some don’t dress all that well and have unrefined tastes, but that’s less of a criticism of them than me just being a big snob, although I try to conceal my snobbiness because I’m courteous.

If you think that the people of Springfield are, as a rule, rude, then you’re hanging out with the wrong people, most likely because that’s the type of people you attract.

What is your opinion of the job situation in Springfield?

For my line of work, the job situation is not good. I’d really like to make more money and move my family into a house more suitable for our numbers. But I do have a stable job with a good company, so I can’t complain.