Do You Prefer To Be In Town Or On The Outskirts For Work?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
June 16, 2010 5:46pm CST
Personally, I would (and have) preferred to be in the centre of a Town or City so there is somewhere to go for me at lunch-time.
The best place I worked at was in Preston as the City Centre was down the high street with Debenhams as the first store I would come across if spending time away from work. It is amazing how much one can do in half an hour! There was also flexitime in place which was great for me as I was always in the "plus" as they call it, due to being dependant on trains to get there.
At lunch-times I loved being able to look through clothes, sampling a new perfume or even treating myself to a Sausage Roll from Gregg's further down the street, usually on a Friday. I ate healthily the rest of the week..honest!
I have experienced being in the middle of a sprawling industrial estate and I don't like those at all...nowhere to go, especially for me, who doesn't drive.
So, what's it like for you? At lunch-time are there places you can go to chill out or are you stuck indoors through lack of amenities in the area?
At lunch-times I loved being able to look through clothes, sampling a new perfume or even treating myself to a Sausage Roll from Gregg's further down the street, usually on a Friday. I ate healthily the rest of the week..honest!
I have experienced being in the middle of a sprawling industrial estate and I don't like those at all...nowhere to go, especially for me, who doesn't drive.
So, what's it like for you? At lunch-time are there places you can go to chill out or are you stuck indoors through lack of amenities in the area?1 person likes this
11 responses
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
That sounds perfect my friend. Are there any green areas you can go, like a park with benches to sit on? I'm sure there will be because you sound so happy. That's great!
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
17 Jun 10
actually, the only time I ever worked downtown, I didn't much care for it. Didn't hate it, but had to ride the bus to work, not drive. I pretty much took my lunches to work anyway, until the office moved so close to my mom's that she would fix them for me.
I was skipping them for a long while, but had to start taking lunches again because my blood sugar would go too low.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
John skips his lunches and I really wish he didn't. I used to eat my own food in offices (or take it outside) as it can get very expensive buying food every day. In fact, my favourite food was breakfast cereal as I had to go outside each day to the service station over the road to buy some milk.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
17 Jun 10
I can relate with you as previously our office was located right in the middle of the shopping district of our city. Those half hours flew fast and before we knew it, it was back to office but after a very invigorating break. Usually we would go out in groups after finishing our lunch quickly (much like school kids eager to go out and play) and wander thru the shops, just soaking in the ambience. I would also buy knick knacks for the house … you know how you always need something or the other for the kitchen or bathroom… we would also have some light snack…mainly fruits or something spicy and then return to office. Alas, those days are no more and now the office is in a very very boring area with nothing to do during lunch break.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
18 Jun 10
Oh yes, we are now in a locality that can best be described as nondescript 
anyways...isn't it so much fun when you can go shopping with colleagues within the office hours! I just loved those times
anyways...isn't it so much fun when you can go shopping with colleagues within the office hours! I just loved those times@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
I take it from what you have typed that the office you work in has been relocated to a less favourable position? That happened to me once. It wasn't that far but the previous office was within walking distance from home and I could buy food from shops nearby, go home to eat the food, then be back at work..all in half an hour. The new location, yes, was right in the centre of Town but the atmosphere INSIDE THE BUILDING left a lot to be desired, so I suppose that can have a negative effect too.
Payday was always a big deal in Preston as we were paid monthly so the office virtually emptied at lunch-times on that day. It was great because we would all come back with bags of shopping....usually clothes from nearby Debenhams!
That happened to me once. It wasn't that far but the previous office was within walking distance from home and I could buy food from shops nearby, go home to eat the food, then be back at work..all in half an hour. The new location, yes, was right in the centre of Town but the atmosphere INSIDE THE BUILDING left a lot to be desired, so I suppose that can have a negative effect too.
Payday was always a big deal in Preston as we were paid monthly so the office virtually emptied at lunch-times on that day. It was great because we would all come back with bags of shopping....usually clothes from nearby Debenhams!
@ladysurvivor (4746)
• Malaysia
17 Jun 10
Well.. actually I like being at the center of town as well, not only because it is easy for me to get access to restaurants. I also appreciate the fact that people in larger town tend to mend their own business, so I feel relaxed because nobody is actually checking where I go and what I do.
It's not that I want to be secretive, it's just that I like to be free to do whatever I want. Smaller towns tend to have nosy people. Lol. That's my personal opinion and I hope nobody is offended.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
Not offended at all my friend. I know exactly what you mean. Having the freedom to just get away and blend in with other people is great. I used to love doing my own thing at lunch-times and could never understand those who would just sit there and not bother going outside...even if was for a bit of fresh air!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Jun 10
I liked when I was in Woodland Hills and there were malls and restaurants and places that I would walk to and eat and shop and so on. But being here is nice too. I have a lake and a river that I can walk to at lunch. Not enough choices of places to eat though, but at least there are a few.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Jun 10
Hi Dawn! The lake and river sounds good..I like being near water myself although I've never been lucky enough to experience that in the workplace. I did once work in a stressful environment and at lunch-time I walked to a field nearby to take photos of Herdwick Sheep. They were sheltering from the sun and watching them cleared my stressed out brain.
1 person likes this
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
17 Jun 10
I would prefer to be in town. I had 2 job offers before I joined my last company and the company joined was in the mid of the city, this was the best point which supported me to join the company. The company was just 2 km away from my home so I joined the company. After 2 years of job, I was transferred to another branch of the company which was 35 km from my home
but I had to move with the project, could not change my project as I loved that one.
but I had to move with the project, could not change my project as I loved that one.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
Yes, I do know what you mean. My husband used to walk to work, then they moved location within the same City but he had to drive. Soon after that he was made redundant and now works for a similar firm that he now has to travel even further to get to. He doesn't complain though (but his car isn't cheap to run) as the alternative isn't work contemplating. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices don't we my friend?
@AjaySinghBaghel (5506)
• India
18 Jun 10
Yes, we have to sacrifice something to get something better
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
17 Jun 10
When I go to work, its always in the country, and well back from a road. I seldom see anybody, and if they come by in a car or truc, they always roll up the windows before they get within speaking distance. This is because I am a beekeeper and I wear a bee suit, hat and veil, and long gloves when I work with the bees. I have 12 beeyards, each one having around 30 colonies,( beehives,) and each beehive has between 80,000 and 100,000 honey bees. At lunch time I go home, and get back at it again in the afternoon. I love my job and wouldn't trade it for anything in, or around, a city.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
Which bee is endangered? I do worry about them and I like to watch them go about their business (I see them in Mum's garden at times). They are wonderful creatures and I'm not surprised that you wouldn't trade your job in for anything. My brother works outdoors and he looks miles better than my hubby, who, unfortunately, has to work in an office all day.
Each to his own though as hubby reacts badly in the sun, so I suppose his job suits his personality.
@iamfine (740)
• China
17 Jun 10
Hello, for live and for work, I prefer to be in town, better in the center of town. I like to play joga after my work, and I like shopping, eating after work to relax myself. In center of the town, it usually very prosperous, you can visit a whole street of shops for fashion or for food. that why I choose town center to live in and work. Everything is so convinient.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
It's wonderful that you have such a great location to work in, it does make a difference to quality of life, in my view.
@zzyw87 (1254)
• Philippines
17 Jun 10
I prefer to be in town when I am working. I really am a city girl at heart. In the city, there are a lot of things to do and of course places to eat. Sometimes during lunch break, I meet up with friends or go to a bookstore or something. When I am in the suburbs or provinces, I cannot do much. I get bored easily.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
It's great that you can meet up with friends like that, good for you! I know what you mean about being "out in the sticks." However, whilst in Preston I once went for a meal with a friend of mine set in the middle of a park. He was a local guy so knew the area better than I did. I never even knew the place existed until he took me there. It was a lovely day too so we could eat outside.
Flexitime made it possible to have long lunches like that on occasion, provided we had enough "credit" to do so..which we did, obviously!
I know what you mean about being "out in the sticks." However, whilst in Preston I once went for a meal with a friend of mine set in the middle of a park. He was a local guy so knew the area better than I did. I never even knew the place existed until he took me there. It was a lovely day too so we could eat outside.
Flexitime made it possible to have long lunches like that on occasion, provided we had enough "credit" to do so..which we did, obviously!
@msfrancisco9369 (10002)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Jun 10
Hi Jane,
I preferred to be in town too. based on my work experiences they're all located in town/city. much accessible and everything you need is available. though during my college days, i was exposed to being in the outskirts and worked in rural and mountenous areas.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
The County in which I live (Cumbria) is very large and - for the size of it at least, does not have a huge population due to it being rural in most places. This creates a problem for those who work in Councils but have to drive for their work. It can take the whole morning travelling from Carlisle (where I am in the North) to Barrow (in the South) due to the way the roads meander round. Complicated to explain but I once travelled as a passenger around all the Household Waste Recycling Centres and two landfill sites in Cumbria and it took all day...in fact I don't think we covered them all, spent all our time getting to them lol.
Lancashire was much easier as many offices are centralised so workers do not have to travel as much. Train links are better there as well.
I do sympathise with anyone who has to travel for long periods of time even before they do any work!
Do you have time for lunch or is it food on the move because you're so busy?
Lancashire was much easier as many offices are centralised so workers do not have to travel as much. Train links are better there as well.
I do sympathise with anyone who has to travel for long periods of time even before they do any work!
Do you have time for lunch or is it food on the move because you're so busy?
@kodukodu84 (1569)
• Malaysia
17 Jun 10
hi janey, i'm currently working in a big city at the moment, and everything is just everywhere. food, clothing, shoes, make-up, etc...i don't really have to go far, i usually take an advantage of my lunch time to take a quick look at different things, oh, i work inside a big shopping mall by the way. and if i wanted a fresh air, i can always choose to go out and sit at the park outside..it's a very nice park and lots of flowers around.
i've work in a small town before, and i found it quite inconvenient and lonely. i also don't drive so i can't really go too far to get something that i wanted but wasn't around. i remember how i had to pack my lunch to work everyday that time, and it was taking a lot of my time..i had to wake up very early in the morning just for that. i did find it quite peaceful, away from traffic and crowd like in a big city, but when it comes about amenities, then i'd rather choose big city.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
17 Jun 10
How I would love to visit Malaysia, it sounds a wonderful place and no doubt is.
I take it the shopping mall is indoors? I'm not a big fan of them, if I'm being honest as I like access to the outdoors. I like the fact you have a park nearby though, I'd be using that at lunch-times, for sure!
