Listening to “Home” by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros I was inspired to make the following realization:
The culturally prevalent concept “Home is Where the Heart is” which is found throughout American music and literature actually makes neolocality possible. By valuing the notion that our sense of home is tied to those we love rather than a sense of place or a connection to the land, the nuclear family and neolocal residence patterns are made possible and even encouraged. Perhaps this is an extension of the long history of American immigrant and migration within the nation. It has definitely been perpetuated by urbanization, globalization, and the need to relocate for employment. I think this is an interesting case of the a cultural idom which both is perpetuated by a cultural behavior and actually serves to perpetuate that behavior as well.
Though, I have to wonder if the increasing ability to “work from home” or on the computer/internet will change this cultural need to accept mobility as necessary for success.
Sydney Yeager 