The global “slow food” movement — forsaking fast food for the pleasures of cooking, community and simplicity — has spawned the “slow cities” trend, dubbed “Cittaslow,” which holds implications for employers, retailers and rental-property owners. Adherents seek out tiny apartments with cheaper rents, look for less-consuming jobs, or streamline their work lives. (One professional stripped his career of all but the most lucrative tasks, leaving him with an adequate income and a two-day workweek.) Instead of working long hours at high-pressure jobs to pay for large spaces and fill them with stuff, these slow-downers have more time to spend with friends in coffee bars, browse in artisan shops, and pursue personal interests such as making pottery or volunteering with community groups.
