Town or country - what would be your choice?
By 41Combedale
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
Greece
October 30, 2012 2:19pm CST
I have lived in a town most of my life but after living close to a motorway for several years we decided to move to somewhere in the country. My husband chose a particular area because he loved the smell of autumn there and it was within walking distance of a small town. It was a good choice and we were close enough get trains to London - it was a 45 minute train journey. So we had the best of both worlds for a while, shopping centres within a short distance and fresh air to wake up to in the morning. It wasn't quite country living but it was very pleasant.
When we moved to our present home we really arrived in the country. We are surrounded by rolling hills and olive groves with a view of the sea in the distance. It is idyllic but I miss the convenience of a town. For shopping I now rely on the weekly market which sells fruit and vegetables, clothes and kitchen ware. But the choice is limited and it is an hour's bus ride into Athens.
There is nothing much to do but invite people home for a meal or go to the outdoor cinema - but that is only available in the summer as is swimming in the sea. TV is our only outlet for entertainment.
I have reached the age when the desire to 'go out' is considerably reduced so I can cope with a quiet life in the country but when younger visitors come they ask us if we feel cut off.
If you could choose between living in the town or the country what would you go for and why?
6 people like this
20 responses
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
30 Oct 12
It just sounds beautiful and very peaceful, but I think I would only like to do this for a vacation. I wouldn't want to go one hour on a bus ride to get all my shopping done, let alone carry it all back on the bus too. That's just a bit much for me.
I would rather be within walking distance, or at least a short ride to the market. Why did you move from the second place?, it sounded ideal.
Not having enough to do would drive me crazy. I would have to do some crafting such as painting (aounds like a beautiful view), making some crafts and then selling them online, pottery, etc. I would have to do something to keep myself occupied.
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
31 Oct 12
Not ideal enough for a homesick husband! He did not want to grow old in cold wet England! I keep myself occupied online quite a bit, Skype keeps me in touch with people. I write books, poetry and articles and I do like to do a bit of crafting as well.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
31 Oct 12
Oh, I misunderstood...I thought you sounded pretty bored and just watched tv most of the time. Good you're doing crafts and writing. I'd still want something closer to shopping but that's just me. 
@GardenGerty (160626)
• United States
31 Oct 12
I am in a small, semi rural town and have been for over thirty years. I grew up in a large city. I have shopping available in town, but for some stores I like I need to drive about a half hour or an hour. I would not mind being a little more rural. I am easy to entertain. It is about an hour to places that have live theater and big museums. That is okay.
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
30 Oct 12
Grew up in the woods, ran barefoot, built camps and slept out, cooked on wood-fires, built tree-houses, dug tunnels and caves, made a railway, rafts, etc.
People in cities are scared, unfriendly, alienated and isolated. The city is malevolent, brooding and oppressive.
The woods are beautiful, blissful and holy
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Nov 12
Rolling hills, olives groves and views of the sea...sounds idyllic to me.
Then I realised you moved from England to Greece...wow, that's some move.
I live in the bush, shopping is 45 minutes away and better shopping is an hour away and then 3 hours to a BIG country town/city. I go to the city about 3 times a year or less, don't miss it at all. I go to town about once every 3 weeks and I go to the nearest town once a week to meet up with friends.
I love the quiet and relaxed living here and the only thing I miss is walks on the beach.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
31 Oct 12
I would choose town, more exactly a city. I'm a city girl, I've always lived in the city, and as much as it has disadvantages, I've always liked living here. Country is idyllic, I love being there for some days... but later it becomes suffocating for me. I love diversity, adventures, doing something different every day... I love theatres, cinemas, cafés, restaurants, museums, concerts - and a wide variety of those. Sometimes I feel bored in the country - even in the cit when I can't go out for 5 days in a row. I also like the public transport and that there's everything I need there, every kind of shop, and I can access everything in maximally 1,5 hours from home, and I don't have to drive or travel on a bus/train for hours and hours and hours to get to a proper theatre to watch a nice play (it's my obsession).
@winniemariposa (255)
• China
1 Nov 12
I believe that it will be better to choose a quiet place, which is close to the town. It is true that we have to buy some goods from malls, however, if we choose to live in town, we will have to speed up our pace of life, and it will not be practical to live a slow and comfortable life. Therefore, it will be better to choose to live in a country to enjoy the beautiful scenery if we are not ambitious.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
31 Oct 12
i actually really like where i grew up. it was on the edge of town and so we had lots of neighbours, stores were a bit of a distance but not too bad and well, everything that you needed was there. In the back yard, however, was miles of fields, an abandoned train track and the property we lived on, had a barn and a cherry orchard. it was a great place to be a kid because there was always something to do and most often someone to do it with.
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
31 Oct 12
I live in a city in india, this is the place where i was born and after retirement from teaching am living again with my wife, kids and grand kids
I have lived in villages too where i was posted by the government; i was having the idea that people there must be simple, but it was not so, the politicians have spoiled the peaceful atmosphere and have made the simple persons crocked
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
31 Oct 12
I would choose something in-between like you used to have.
@Kashidanga1971 (1354)
• Bangladesh
31 Oct 12
I like country more than town. The people of country is more angelic than the people of town. Country is heavenly is full of greens, noiseless roads, fresh breezes etc.
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
31 Oct 12
I have always lived in the city. I lived 12 years in las vegas usa, and now in mexico city, mexico. Both very busy places to live. id love some time to live in a more quiet place. So id choose the country. Have agreat day there.
@maorzh (21)
• China
31 Oct 12
Thank you for sharing your life in the country.I think I would choose living in the town.The beautiful picture of countryside you describe attracts me very much but I really fear the part of having nothing much to do.Indeed,living in such a quiet and peaceful place ,you need ways to enrich your life.If you have interests you really enjoy such as writing,reading or photograghy,then you can find pleasure in the country life.But not every one can enjoy the peaceful life.I'm not one.
@xiejiaotu (217)
• Malaysia
31 Oct 12
i would choose to live in town because i get get a lots or needs and wants in town. if i am in country, it is more near to nature but it is unconvinient to get anything. Living in country feel like away from the world and like back to the past. if choosing for vacation or travel then i would choose country but staying i would choose town.
@Sindelle (824)
• United States
31 Oct 12
I'd get bored if I lived in the country. I'm young and I like to go out to clubs and bars with my friends. I also like going to art museums which are not typically found out in the middle of nowhere. Also I grew up in the city and I find that I have more in common with people from large cities then those from the country. I can't stand country music, farms, and don't understand some of their extra curricular activities such as mudding.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
31 Oct 12
I feel jealous about you, but I think you have pointed to a few things that one must think about when one moves to the country. I just moved out of Austria, which is a very beautiful country, but not so much when I one doesn't enjoy skying. Living in the city meant having to hear helicopters and ambulances going to the hospital, rubbish trucks, assorted buses, mowing the grass, drilling the road, assorted traffic noise, fixing sidewalks and roads, etc. I am now in Shoal Bay and I enjoy the silence, with only birds singing and school age children enjoying themselves. We are facing a blue bay and can see some ferries, boats and yachts, as well as some hills in the distance. There are many shopping centres in the bays nearby and the cities of Newcastle and Sydney are not far either. I am enjoying the quietness here and I would not mind inviting some friends over, to have a meal, listen to music, or just talk! We have already bought ourselves a small car and are also purchasing a one bedroom flat, with the most incredible view of the bay! Most people believe the view from our flat is a painting, but it is real!!
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
31 Oct 12
Right now I am living in the town or city. Life in the city is much more convenient, but when I get retired, I would like to live in the country. One problem that lies before us is we cannot buy a country house as I have not heard of anything about real estate in the country. If I could get one, I would love to as I love the quiet life in the country. Thanks for the discussion.
@schulzie (4061)
• United States
31 Oct 12
I would always choose a town or city over the country. I just get bored living in the country. And I base this on the fact that I've lived in both and I was just plain miserable when I was in the country. It might be nice to visit for a little while but not to live in; at least not for me.
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
Have a nice day and happy myLotting!!!
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
31 Oct 12
I grew up in or nearby big cities, liked it as a kid but the older I get the more I like the peace and wide open countries. Might be also because my country is getting more and more crowded. So I would choose the country (incl. the simple life) the less houses, people, the better.
@seliokas (346)
• Lithuania
31 Oct 12
Hello,
I would choose to live in a small village, where shops and our mother nature is near, I would love to grow up my son there since he would get the best this world can offer, well unfortunately, i live in a big city, but i really don't mind living there since I'm living happily.
Happy mylotting!
