The joys of living in downtown Hartford. There are plenty.

I’m still a year or two away from retirement. My friends are moving to their retirement homes along the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island. Not that I can afford it, but I don’t want to be responsible for maintaining a house or even an apartment. I sold my house in Rocky Hill (great city) and moved to downtown Hartford.

Okay. We are not Boston. We don’t have a Fenway Park or a Boston Garden (a $200 per person per night) or a Faneuil Hall (name the last time a Bostonian went there).

Besides rents being 50% lower, this is why living in downtown Hartford is doing so well.

Less than one to three blocks away we have:

The XL Center: Imagine going to a UConn men’s or women’s basketball game, a Wolf Pack hockey game, a Lizzo or Andrea Bocelli concert and being able to walk home.

Pratt Street: It has a vibe. And something happens there every summer weekend. So, so nice.

Bushnell Park: Did you know this is the first public park in the US? How many of you have seen the Corning Fountain? It’s breathtaking. Imagine walking to a Hartford Symphony Orchestra concert or the Hartford Jazz Fest, ice skating in the winter, the Hartford Marathon, First Night, and the list goes on.

The Wadsworth Atheneum: (not Antheneum). Did you know that this is the country’s first public art museum? It is a treasure that requires several visits per year. And it’s free for Hartford residents

Such as live performances: The Bushnell, Hartford Stage, Theatreworks, Sea Tea Comedy Theater, Arch Street Tavern, Black Eyed Sally’s and last but not least the Infinity Music Hall. All close by. Not enough compliments for such great locations.

There are others a bus ride away.

How Hartford became the star of the upcoming feature film “Midas,” opening this week in CT

Let’s not forget the Yard Goats: the best minor league stadium in the US. You may need to purchase scalped tickets if it is a last decision on your walk there. They’re not the Yankees, but can you tell the difference between the Goats and the Sox?

The Hartford Public Library: It’s much more than just books.

The Old State House: Concerts in the summer and fall. Follow the path where the state constitution was hidden in the Charter Oak Tree.

Fine dining and fast food: all ethnicities everywhere.

The Butler McCook Museum: the oldest house in Hartford. Never been there, but going there soon. Do you have?

The Riverfront: Whether you just want to enjoy the view, or enjoy the live performances several times a year.

The Connecticut Science Center: True to form, I get the impression it’s for kids. I’m going to check it out and if I’m right, I’ll take my yet-to-be-born grandchildren there one day.

UConn: As a senior, I enjoy taking free courses (I think) and sparring friendly with my professors regardless of which side they choose. I wish Washington (and most of us) would be open to compromise.

A short bus ride: to the Parkville Market and the Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center. Discount for seniors.

If I missed any nearby attractions, I apologize.

There is diversity to embrace in the city center. Whether it’s seeing the pure joy of people doing salsa at Pratt, tasting different foods around town, or simply greeting someone who isn’t like you, it’s real life. We are fortunate to live in a country where so many different cultures thrive.

Do you want to make someone’s day? Recognize a homeless person. Offer them a smoke or a $2 burger at Burger King. Imagine living a life (for whatever reason) where people avoid you. Imagine that you are this person and someone greets you.

The next time someone asks me why I would want to live in Hartford, I will direct them
This article. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.

Matthew (Matt) Jenkelunas loves Hartford.