Wealthy suburbs are hot, because the schools are good. Well, it’s not entirely clear if test scores are high, because the schools function better or because the high-octane families supplement tons, but, whatever, let’s just leave it at “lots of people want to move to certain towns” right now.

My kids are prospering in the new school environment, but there’s definitely some weird shit going on.

Harlan Coben, a novelist and fellow townie, writes about the intense sports culture. We haven’t seen it, because Jonah’s not on the A-level sports teams. I heard that the lacrosse politics is insane.

There’s also other dysfunction brewing around the edges. Steve went to a parents’ meeting for Confirmation at the local church. The speaker told the crowd about the town’s problem with stress disorders and binge drinking and all-night texting marathons.

Sometimes, I think that I’m living in the Ice Storm. But without the key parties.