Which do you think is better, living in the city or living in the country?

I love city living – tried that country thing for about eight years and vowed once I got back to civilization that I would never again move to anyplace that didn’t have cable TV and pizza delivery…

Country, with a city within an hour’s drive is perfect for me.

I like TOWNS. Nice, hearty towns. I really like Boulder. I could also see myself living somewhere smaller though. Like some really small beautiful little town in Wyoming. I have this thing for Wyoming. As long as I was with at least one person I love, I would be really happy. It’s about who you’re with, not where you are, if you ask me.

Like @lucillelucillelucille said though, I’d like to be somewhere close to a large city though, just in case I ever need my fancy tickled. Also, for concerts and shows. It would be convenient.

The concrete jungle is not my thing. It has no appeal to me. I hate when a skyscraper blocks the sun from hitting me. Ew.

Country. Quiet, beautiful and more…me.
I like to have a city near enough for more specialized medical care and the occasional (maybe once a year?) shopping trip and restaurant or play; and airport too.

The city is the one for me. Not once did it occur to me as a youth that I would ever say that. Country was it for me then. Now I can’t imagine living in the country. I’d die of loneliness.

Love the country. Just moved to a farm in a town with the population of 500. We have a few houses to the east of us that are ½ mile away. The other homes and farms to the north, south and west are all 2–3 miles from us. I’ve always lived in the burbs or a city, but this country living is the happiest I’ve ever been.

I’m a country/mountain girl at heart.

I was raised in the capitol city of my state but have now lived on property in the woods for the last 19 years.

I love the safety factors, peace and quiet, no crime, lots of space, nature, wildlfie and, of course, it is not possible to keep farm animals in the city.

The area I live in now is perfect.

My house is one of 3 on a dead end road on 5+ private acres.

I am 17 minutes to one nearby medium sized town, and 20 to the other with full city amenities. One hour to the big city.
My local tourist hub is 10 minutes from me with a bakery, gas station/convieinance store and another mom&pop store, 2 deli’s and 5–6 restaurants, including a newer Mexican place, a diner/saloon, Pizza place, 2 fine dining options, and a cafe that is open seasonally.

Several of the establishments have live music every weekend in the summer and it’s a hoppin’, happy, kicked back river crowd.

My rural mountain community is a great fit for me!

I’ve lived in the city, I’ve lived in the country, I now live in the ‘burbs and I like it best. I like talking to my neighbors as we go about our business, I like having easy access to a big city and all that it offers, I like walking around my neighborhood and seeing people garden, decorate, sit on benches on their front porches, whatever. It’s only “cookie-cutter” if peopled by clones.

Country with a satellite dish! This neighborhood is not “cookie cutter” in that no two houses are alike and all are very nice homes but the country with a mountain view, privacy, quiet and wildlife is my way to live. We are seven minutes to a fairly large grocery store, Sonic and gas station but it’s not nearly enough. Another twenty minutes and you’re in a town with 100K people but it’s too far. lol
I mean, almost half an hour to the big stores?? At least we can eat at the club which is 2 minutes away but the menu isn’t that extensive. Nice bar, though, if you’re into that.

Except for a couple-year stint in the suburbs, I’ve lived in big cities for over 20 years, I guess that’s evidence of my preference.

I like the country, too, but I always imagine finding work would be a lot tougher.

I’ll go with a small city. Nothing crazy like, say, Toronto nor New York.

More like, Savannah, or Stratford, On (Canada).

Saying that, I wouldn’t mind living up in Northern, Michigan (Traverse City area). Rolling, greens hills and cherry orchards are where it’s at!

Yes @Jude that is some beautiful country.

I don’t think any one is better, I think it really depends on your personal preference. I live in the country, and I don’t like it very much at all. I prefer the city because you don’t have to drive everywhere (at least in Philadelphia). You can walk, or take SEPTA. I like the city’s amenities too.

Country… near enough to go walking on the moors, but within 1 hour drive of a city.

NEW YORK is where I’d rather stay!
I get allergic smelling hay!
I just adore a penthouse view!
Darling, I love you, but give me Park Avenue!

I’d’ve used London, but that’s not the lyric.

Seriously, I went to Woodstock last summer and after 24 hours, I was climbing the walls, er, trees! However, I’m better with nature near the ocean.

My family moved to So. Cal from New York when I was about 13 and I absolutely hated everything about the suburbs. It was too quiet, too clean, far from everything… it wasn’t real like the city. We drove up to San Francisco in the first few months after moving, and I can still remember the lump in my throat and how I closed my eyes just seeing it from a distance. Yes, the city is beautiful.

But, if I ever have my own family I would take us to the suburbs (suburban sprawl and all). It’s nice; easy, in a way city life just isn’t. I know that now.

As for true country living… my grandma lives in a small province… sometimes I think it would be nice, but ultimately I’d want more. The suburbs are good because you are in that in between space and close enough.

I was raised in the country but now live in a city and I wouldn’t want to go back to the country now. Aside from anything else, I’m unable to drive so it’s essential that I live somewhere with a good public transport network.

I grew up in a very small town and have mostly lived on the edge of cities close to the country. I like where I am now, in a city with all the city amenities close at hand and yet within an easy bus journey or cycle ride of some wonderful countryside.

I prefer the suburbs. Not cookie-cutter suburbs, but nice suburbs (trust me, such a thing abounds in the Bay Area). In other words, I don’t want to have to live in a cramped apartment in the city and hear horns honking all night nor do I want to live in the middle of Buttfuck, Missouri, 50 miles from the nearest cultured event. I like the fact that cities have more to do, but I like the lack of crowds and the natural beauty of rural areas. A “nice suburb” that isn’t too far from a big city (i.e. San Francisco) but has a rural enough feel is perfect for me. And it’s essentially where I live now…

@DominicX lol, I used to live in Buttfuck, Missouri! (it was actually labeled on google maps as “Trailer park, MO” but pretty much the same! I think I’m pretty happy where I eventually grew up. I’m living in Martinez, CA as we speak.

I like both and live smack in the middle. It is nice because I can have everything I need and want to do within 2–10 minute drive, I have beautiful forest preserves, bike paths and a river nearby without the hustle and hassles of the city nor the desolate solitude of the country. I can visit either on the weekends and both a 30 minute drive in either direction. Plus we have some of the best restaurants I have ever been to right here.

I love the boondocks.

In between: suburbs.

I like both. I live about 40 minutes out of the city but on very large block. If I want to go to the theatre/cinema/nice shops/restaurants, they are within a reasonable drive away.

I have lived in cities most of my life. I would prefer a couple of acres on the beach, not far from a city, like Pismo Beach

Love the country. Hate the city for many reasons, a few of which are listed here:

- Smells like piss
– Air quality is much poorer
– Homeless population is too much. I don’t mind donating a buck, but being approached three times a day every day, come on!
– Grocery store has a 50% mark up, and less selection
– It’s a BATTLE to get out of the city of you work somewhere else, b/c everyone is trying to go INTO the city

It’s the same in LA, Chicago, parts of NY. I now live in South Florida and I won’t go NEAR Miami.

As usual I’m in between. I would like to like outside the city but not so far as to be “the country.” I want to be fairly close to the advantages of the city.

I prefer to be in the country but near a city.

For eight years, I had a nice little cottage in the woods, which was great for a home. However, there wasn’t much around. There was a small city about 15 miles away, but they didn’t have much. If I wanted to go to a well-stocked hobby shop or a place that sold Phở then it was over an hour away, and the only way I could get most computer parts was to order them online. Hell, I couldn’t even get 56K dial-up!

Living in the city has it’s perks; game stores galore, hundreds of restaurants of all kinds to choose from, broadband internet; used computer parts stores, and lots of other cool stuff. However, it is not nearly as laid-back. There is always the sound of traffic and the occasional siren, people everywhere whether you want to deal with them or not.. basically a lot of things that make me miss my old cabin out in the woods.

Technically I live in the suburbs which is a compromise. It’s a decent neighborhood, but the four-lane road right outside my bedroom window makes it hard to sleep sometimes. Finding a quiet getaway is nearly impossible unless I want a looong drive; the Seattle metroplex is huge!

@jerv ; I lived in Preston for awhile in the late 70s and worked at a marina on Elliot Bay. I soooo get that!

I’ve lived in the country for the past ten years, and next week we are moving back into suburbia for 6 months. After that, I will be spending part time in the city of Portland and part time on our country property in La Center, WA.

Benefits of Living in the Country
Quiet!
Looking out the window and seeing nothing but hay fields and mountains.
The serenading of courting coyotes on a February evening.
Dark skies filled with stars.
Not having to lock up the house when I go out.
I can step out the door and toss a ball for the dogs.
The loudest sound I hear right now is birdsong.

Deficits of Living in the Country
30–45 minute drive every day to work
10 minutes to the nearest supermarket
Pretty remote when there’s a medical emergency
Only one way in or out- dangerous when the fires come
Nowhere to go on my bike- lots of long hills
The rats eat my car wiring

Benefits of Living in the City
Closer to everything
I can ride my bike for errands
No septic system!
Only 5–10 minutes to work.

Deficits of Living in the City
Noise, noise, noise…
No privacy.
Have to worry about crime.

@crisw When I was inteh country, it was a 30 minute drive to work or the supermarket. Now, I have a supermarket next door, but I still have a 30–45 minute commute to work :D

@crisw

I think we are living parallel lives.
reminds self to put septic treatment in toilets.

Well living in the coutry side is nice, but I think the closer people live together, and too their work and shops etc, the less they drive, and so the less gas / petrol is used.

For example the amount of gas / petrol used per head is far greater in Los Angeles than it is in Newyork.

http://www.environmental-consultants.info/