City Life/Country Life - Which do you prefer?

Jim Bob Scratcher

I like the peacefulness of living in small town, which you don't have in a city or a big town, but i hate the local gossip shiote you have to put up with in small towns where everyone seems to know your business, something which you rarely come across living a city.

So which one do you prefer folks?

Beanntraigheach

Urban areas are infested with Humans.
So countryside for me.

Depends on the country.

tigerboon

Jim Bob Scratcher wrote: »

I like the peacefulness of living in small town, which you don't have in a city or a big town, but i hate the local gossip shiote you have to put up with in small towns where everyone seems to know your business, something which you rarely come across living a city.

So which one do you prefer folks?

2 types of people are going to reply

1. Dubs for whom Dublin is the Centre of Everything
2. Some of the other 7 odd billion humans

hairyslug

I much prefer living in a small village, I'm an unsociable bollix so I don't have to worry about gossip.

Graces7

Neither. Small island life for me every time. Folk few and scattered and life is challenging enough that there is never the boredom that leads to nosiness etc

Utterly lovely too, surrounded by ocean. Wild flowers and birds and seals etc and the peace when we are cut off in bad weather..

Gorgeousgeorge

Country. I love being isolated. But i grew up in a house thats was down a 2 mile lane with nobody for 2 miles in any direction.

Jackeens and townies will say the urban life and each to their own i think its a lot to do where you were brought up

Graces7

Gorgeousgeorge wrote: »

Country. I love being isolated. But i grew up in a house thats was down a 2 mile lane with nobody for 2 miles in any direction.

Jackeens and townies will say the urban life and each to their own i think its a lot to do where you were brought up

I was raised in towns;but always gravitated to deep rural so it is a character trait,maybe genetic. May even go back to my Irish ancestry...

cournioni

Countryside. 100%.

Nothing enjoyable about living in an area with a load of people crammed in on top of you, which is pretty much what you get in major towns and cities, and then have to pay for the so called “convenience” of it.

McMurphy

Under the sea!

There are no accusations,

Just friendly crustaceans

Under the sea.

I love Cites. Dublin? God no. Tokyo, Taipei, Xi'an, St. Petersburg, Munich... God, yes. New York, not so much.

But then I also love living in the middle of Connemara, where my nearest neighbour is 6 km away, and the shop is 13 km away. Need a somewhat useful internet connection though.

cantdecide

I want countryside at my back door, a city at my front door, a shopping centre just up the road and an airport just a little bit further down the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFDcoX7s6rE

erica74

I'm originally from Dublin and am now living in a fairly rural area with no public transport, no footpaths, no street lighting, that sort of thing. I miss being able to do anything I want. Where I live now is about 10km or so from the nearest town and there's not much to do there. However, I have 3 dogs, no neighbours and a huge garden, something that would be virtually impossible in Dublin. There's good sides and bad sides to both places but I really miss the social aspect of Dublin.

listermint

You can't beat walking out to your front garden this morning and hearing absolutely nothing but birds singing. Wont get that in the city. Love it

Alf Veedersane

I'm from down the country but have lived in Dublin about 18 years or so.

I prefer being here than at home (down the country) primarily because there's a lot of variety for our little one (3 yo) in terms of places to play and things to do.

That and the countryside bores me.

Diff'rent strokes and all that

ArtyC

Country life for me now. All through my 20s it had to be city living but it does wear you eventually.
This morning in the city id have to endure street sweepings, bin collections ( the glass from the pubs being emptied has to be the worse), seagulls eating all the rubbish and vomit from last nights revellers. Drugs are becoming more rife, cost of rent is growing rapid - yes there's loads of amenities but I had no money left after rent to take part in any.

Decided to stop working to pay large rent and move to the country 2 years ago. The thought of it terrified me at the time but I loved it from day one... it's easier on the mind... I am definitely an old wan now 😂😂😂😂

TheAnalyst_

If people could afford it they'd go with the city every time. You'll hear all sorts of other reasons but the real one is that they don't have they money.

Peatys

To each their own.

I've lived in small country towns, large country towns, galway city, Dublin city, Dublin suburbs, and most recently bought a house in Swords.

All have their pros and cons.

_Brian

Country for me.
Did live in city for a time at college and worked in large MN in Dublin for more than a decade.

We live in the sticks, down la lane.
Can’t see the road although you might hear the odd vehicle on a calm evening. We run a small hobby farm, usually about 20 cattle.

I’m sitting here eating breakfast watching cattle graze in the field next to the house, can see the orchard starting to bloom, Chickens poking about, I’ll go out and potter about in the polytunnel for a while before doing anything taxing. We have neighbors close by but never really see or hear from them.

Has it’s drawbacks in bad weather and broadband is sketchy, but it’s an easy life and kids aren’t mixed up on loads of townie ****e.

I have a day job but I packed in the shift work for a job on half the pay but completely flexible.

Graces7

TheAnalyst_ wrote: »

If people could afford it they'd go with the city every time. You'll hear all sorts of other reasons but the real one is that they don't have they money.

No way. You could not pay me to live in the city or even a town. Not now not ever.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

TheAnalyst_ wrote: »

If people could afford it they'd go with the city every time. You'll hear all sorts of other reasons but the real one is that they don't have they money.

That doesn't hold true at all. I could afford to live anywhere I wished. I chose the countryside. I want the peace and quiet, being able to sit in my garden with no noise but that of the nature around me. I enjoy the fresh air and space of the countryside. Of course some people will prefer not to drive 15 minutes to a shop, having bars and clubs aplenty near by and all the other benefits of city life but to each their own. We all look for something different but to say it's forced on us by financial constraints is short sighted.

Graces7

Deleted User wrote: »

I love Cites. Dublin? God no. Tokyo, Taipei, Xi'an, St. Petersburg, Munich... God, yes. New York, not so much.

But then I also love living in the middle of Connemara, where my nearest neighbour is 6 km away, and the shop is 13 km away. Need a somewhat useful internet connection though.

I was there like that and digiweb was my friend.. Give my love to Connemara..

Graces7

_Brian wrote: »

Country for me.
Did live in city for a time at college and worked in large MN in Dublin for more than a decade.

We live in the sticks, down la lane.
Can’t see the road although you might hear the odd vehicle on a calm evening. We run a small hobby farm, usually about 20 cattle.

I’m sitting here eating breakfast watching cattle graze in the field next to the house, can see the orchard starting to bloom, Chickens poking about, I’ll go out and potter about in the polytunnel for a while before doing anything taxing. We have neighbors close by but never really see or hear from them.

Has it’s drawbacks in bad weather and broadband is sketchy, but it’s an easy life and kids aren’t mixed up on loads of townie ****e.

I have a day job but I packed in the shift work for a job on half the pay but completely flexible.

Lovely life... I lived much like that on a small north sea island; no tunnel or orchard, but a goat and a host of birds and critters... Down to cats and dog now with age but still gardening..

And yes, a wonderful life for the kids, and you..

listermint

TheAnalyst_ wrote: »

If people could afford it they'd go with the city every time. You'll hear all sorts of other reasons but the real one is that they don't have they money.

Afraid not horse , could have bought in Dublin with zero hastle. Wanted something more , got it.

Couldn't be happier

Grandeeod

listermint wrote: »

You can't beat walking out to your front garden this morning and hearing absolutely nothing but birds singing. Wont get that in the city. Love it

Im in bed and the window is open. All I can hear are birds singing and a few cows mooing. Blissful.

Graces7

Grandeeod wrote: »

Im in bed and the window is open. All I can hear are birds singing and a few cows mooing. Blissful.

Leave out the cows and I am happy! After my experiences in Connemara the sound of cows is traumatic....

I get some farming traffic, including one whose exhaust is shot, and they harvest seaweed, but that is little enough and the early mornings are bliss ...

Gorgeousgeorge

Graces7 wrote: »

[/B]

I was raised in towns;but always gravitated to deep rural so it is a character trait,maybe genetic. May even go back to my Irish ancestry...

Maybe

Stigura

I think this thread could use a Poll. Or, at least, a little Show of Hands

freshpopcorn

erica74 wrote: »

I'm originally from Dublin and am now living in a fairly rural area with no public transport, no footpaths, no street lighting, that sort of thing. I miss being able to do anything I want. Where I live now is about 10km or so from the nearest town and there's not much to do there. However, I have 3 dogs, no neighbours and a huge garden, something that would be virtually impossible in Dublin. There's good sides and bad sides to both places but I really miss the social aspect of Dublin.

Grow your own fruit and vegetables.

Galwayguy35

I live in a small village which suits me fine, I'm walking distance from the local pub/restaurant so can have a nice dinner and a quiet pint afterwards most Saturday evenings.

Country living can be awkward if a person can't drive but most people have a car these days so it's not really a problem.

DoozerT6

Grew up in the countryside, but within easy distance of the nearest typical small Irish village. However, once I got older there was absolutely nothing there to interest me. Once you get too old to just 'go out and play', and start to become more of your own person, looking past your own nose so to speak, I have to say I found country living quite isolating. As a child and young teen living rurally, you are completely dependent on your parents to bring you places. I certainly spent a lot of my teens back in the late 80's/early 90's (outside of school hours) doing pretty much nothing, aimlessly walking the dog twice a day and trying to keep out of my mothers way so she wouldn't give me all the housework to do

I've mentioned in other threads that this has made me....not anti-social, that's not the right word, but more - accustomed to not socialising. Even now, in my 40's, I have difficulty motivating myself to socialise, especially lately. I think this was down to a lot of inadvertant isolation in my formative years. I was just used to not meeting my friends consistently (of course I did get to see them sometimes, sleepovers etc but not routinely) so it was never a way of life for me. Even when I went to college and started working etc, I just went straight home afterwards because that's what I'd always done. It's mad, looking back on it. What a waste.

Now that I'm older, I'm still living in a city (used to it I guess) but I would be hoping to move to a smaller town soonish. I would be hesitant to live rurally again, both because of the social isolation aspect (that's my own view) and the personal security aspect of a single person with no neighbours nearby. Had I ever married and had a family, I would be hesitant to bring my children up in the countryside due to my own experience, which of course was not ALL negative, but it certainly affected me in the ways I mentioned above.

n!ghtmancometh

listermint wrote: »

You can't beat walking out to your front garden this morning and hearing absolutely nothing but birds singing. Wont get that in the city. Love it

I had that in Dublin this morning and will be same at dusk this evening. Dublin isn't a big city and very few people live in the city centre. The way people go on in this thread you swear it was bloody Mumbai like!

Graces7

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Grew up in the countryside, but within easy distance of the nearest typical small Irish village. However, once I got older there was absolutely nothing there to interest me. Once you get too old to just 'go out and play', and start to become more of your own person, looking past your own nose so to speak, I have so say I found country living quite isolating. As a child and young teen living rurally, you are completely dependent on your parents to bring you places. I certainly spent a lot of my teens back in the late 80's/early 90's (outside of school hours) doing pretty much nothing, aimlessly walking the dog twice a day and trying to keep out of my mothers way so she wouldn't give me all the housework to do

I've mentioned in other threads that this has made me....not anti-social, that's not the right word, but more - accustomed to not socialising. Even now, in my 40's, I have difficulty motivating myself to socialise, especially lately. I think this was down to a lot of inadvertant isolation in my formative years. I was just used to not meeting my friends consistently (of course I did get to see them sometimes, sleepovers etc but not routinely) so it was never a way of life for me. Even when I went to college and started working etc, I just went straight home afterwards because that's what I'd always done. It's mad, looking back on it. What a waste.

Now that I'm older, I'm still living in a city (used to it I guess) but I would be hoping to move to a smaller town soonish. I would be hesitant to live rurally again, both because of the social isolation aspect (that's my own view) and the personal security aspect of a single person with no neighbours nearby. Had I ever married and had a family, I would be hesitant to bring my children up in the countryside due to my own experience, which of course was not ALL negative, but it certainly affected me in the ways I mentioned above.

Thank you for such a thoughtful post.

The idea of social isolation is interesting, Modern psych theories distrust "loners" , as being unnatural and unhealthy .

It can be ike that; depends though on the person etc. as do all things,

when I was seeking my island, I was chatting with three German girls who were working in dublin, in a layby overlooking Great Blasket. They were enthusing
about the island until I spoke of living there full time;HORROR.

To me, wonderful,to them a nightmare.

We all and each have differenr resources and experiences,My childhood was intensely solitary, and yes it shapes us, but for me it removed the fear of it.

Other decades of my life did the same.

And safe here; after all, frequently cut off! A good lock and a good dog. I feel safer here than I have ever done in my life and, limited as I am by age and chronic illness, more at peace and less stressed. I would last a day living in a town or city! Need the ocean and the ocean and the wide Irish sky, and the freedom.

I love being with people.some of the time. Chat with so many when I am out,. Not anti social.Just a loner and an islander in the extreme sense of the word.

Balmed Out

There's a massive variety between various areas most people consider rural and urban.

I never have lived in a city centre but would have liked to experience it, you really have everything on your doorstep but I wouldn't like to raise kids there.

Never lived somewhere very rural either, well I have but coastal with a lot of tourists and foreign neighbours. Cant see much attraction living somewhere inland and isolated.

I do live on the edge of a fairly cosmopolitan but small town with cows for neighbours and far prefer it to suburban living. I can pop in to town to restaurants etc within a few minutes with no problems regarding traffic or parking and find I use 'urban' facilities far more then I ever did living in a city and can go to beaches etc just as easily.

The whole everybody knowing your business is true but I find that comes with being part of a community and I like it, found it very similar in an urban area which was very working class.

Lia_lia

I've never lived in the countryside as an adult but have done as a child. Barely remember it but for some reason I don't like the idea of living out in the sticks.

I do know my Mother absolutely hated living in the countryside. She grew up in a medium sized town (Killarney) and has ended up back there now for the last 20 years. She always says she'd still prefer living in a city but is happy out at home. So I think my aversion to living in the countryside comes from her.

Saying that it's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I currently live in a city and like it. We will probably buy a house in the next few years and it's so hard to decide where to live. Obviously cost will come into it but it's the choice of city, suburbs or country. And also thinking about the future if/when we have children. The idea of living in a big house in the country sounds nice but I don't like the idea of the long commute/being a taxi for kids.

Cows Go µ

I spent my whole life living in either a city or on the edge of a largish town. However I have just bought a house in the middle of nowhere. Could have bought in town but I can't wait to move into my little house. Lovely views and some land. Best bit is that I can train my dogs and they can bark as much as they want and no one is going to care. As opposed to my last few houses where I could only play with them in certain rooms in case their barking bothered the neighbours.

Carry

I lived most of my life in a big city (Berlin) and now in the back of beyond in Ireland.

Occasionally I miss all the opportunities, the multicultural scene especially, the culture (theatre, concerts, museums, nightlife and so on), the wide range of shopping and, of course, meeting people I used to know for ages..

But whenever I visit my old home town, after a few days I get sick of the sensorial overload, the noise, the crowded places, the pretence of being overjoyed to meet people I used to know and now know how superficial it all has been (with a few exceptions).

It's a relief coming home to my Irish cottage with endless fields front and back, a view to die for, a small orchard in a big garden, left and right (with lots of distance in between) neighbours I would call "characters", a few pubs in the nearby village for ever the same entertainment - and peace, endless peace, until the cat demands food.

No, I prefer my country life.
I'm lucky that I can work from home and have an excellent broadband to do so.

The only thing I hate in country living are the midges. And unreliable plumbers. But that's another story.

Stigura

Cows Go µ wrote: »

Best bit is that I can train my dogs and they can bark as much as they want and no one is going to care.

Good for you Please just be absolutely aware though that, if they get across your boundaries, your little dream come true could become ye worst nightmare.

freshpopcorn

It all depends on what you want to be honest.
I get why people want to live in a city/big town but it's not for me.

Cows Go µ

Stigura wrote: »

Good for you Please just be absolutely aware though that, if they get across your boundaries, your little dream come true could become ye worst nightmare.

One of the first things I'm doing is putting up a secure fence so they are completely enclosed when outside. And they would mostly be supervised when outside anyway

Bitches Be Trypsin

City. I struggle to pay my rent but it's worth it

Stigura

Cows Go µ wrote: »

One of the first things I'm doing is putting up a secure fence so they are completely enclosed when outside. And they would mostly be supervised when outside anyway

May I ask ye exactly what sort of fencing ye have in mind? And what sort of Dogs ye have there?

This is Not a trick question. I'm genuinely interested. Feel free to take it to PM as I'm happy to chat about it and compare notes without dragging this thread aside.

I keep medium / large Dogs myself. And the Jack Russel. Not much keeps a JR in!

With the sheer yardage we're faced with, out here, Dog Fence can become a real issue. I'm not a millionaire. I take it you're not? The time and money involved in that 'first thing to do' can prove daunting.

Anyway .....

Graces7

Carry wrote: »

I lived most of my life in a big city (Berlin) and now in the back of beyond in Ireland.

Occasionally I miss all the opportunities, the multicultural scene especially, the culture (theatre, concerts, museums, nightlife and so on), the wide range of shopping and, of course, meeting people I used to know for ages..

But whenever I visit my old home town, after a few days I get sick of the sensorial overload, the noise, the crowded places, the pretence of being overjoyed to meet people I used to know and now know how superficial it all has been (with a few exceptions).

It's a relief coming home to my Irish cottage with endless fields front and back, a view to die for, a small orchard in a big garden, left and right (with lots of distance in between) neighbours I would call "characters", a few pubs in the nearby village for ever the same entertainment - and peace, endless peace, until the cat demands food.

No, I prefer my country life.
I'm lucky that I can work from home and have an excellent broadband to do so.

The only thing I hate in country living are the midges. And unreliable plumbers. But that's another story.

If you have any plumbers you are mightily blessed! I have learned how things work and at present the toilet is an interesting experience...

Graces7

Stigura wrote: »

May I ask ye exactly what sort of fencing ye have in mind? And what sort of Dogs ye have there?

This is Not a trick question. I'm genuinely interested. Feel free to take it to PM as I'm happy to chat about it and compare notes without dragging this thread aside.

I keep medium / large Dogs myself. And the Jack Russel. Not much keeps a JR in!

With the sheer yardage we're faced with, out here, Dog Fence can become a real issue. I'm not a millionaire. I take it you're not? The time and money involved in that 'first thing to do' can prove daunting.

Anyway .....

You are so right

Daisy78

Jim Bob Scratcher wrote: »

I like the peacefulness of living in small town, which you don't have in a city or a big town, but i hate the local gossip shiote you have to put up with in small towns where everyone seems to know your business, something which you rarely come across living a city.

So which one do you prefer folks?

listermint wrote: »

You can't beat walking out to your front garden this morning and hearing absolutely nothing but birds singing. Wont get that in the city. Love it

I live in a Georgian Square, almost city centre Dublin. The birds wake me up every morning and we have a pair of foxes who have taken up residence in the back garden. I encounter more wildlife in Dublin than I ever did in the country

Ubbquittious

Hopefully I'll be moving to an island with only a few 100 people on it soon

Living in the county 100%. Privacy, proper sized house, garage, gardens, much easier to live close to family, actual darkness at night, much less noise etc the list is long.

City or suburbs is fine for work, city or town for socialising but you can't beat waking up in the country side.

ChikiChiki

A good balance of both

andekwarhola

I would crack up living in the countryside full time although I would love to have a place there I could spend time in when I wanted.

Wouldn't like to live right in the middle of a city though. My ideal is living in a quiet suburb but with easy enough distance of the city centre.

snotboogie

Rural living is very tough from late teens to early 30's and from the 60's on. I can see the appeal for a child or for a couple with younger children but most young people will want to establish a career, a social life, a sex life... Rural living leaves one with extremely limited options in these categories. Later in life when ones mobility decreases; larger land and houses are more difficult to maintain, there can often be issues with driving and running errands, there can be the need to access a hospital regularly, even isolation and the need to re establish a social life can become an issue. While the beauty and tranquility may appeal the practicalities of urban life are more important in my mind

Stigura

" Cows Go µ " It wouldn't let me answer ye PM Weird.

Anyway, yeppers; With what ye've got? Ye plan should cover it