City Life/Country Life - Which do you prefer?

n!ghtmancometh · 12-05-2018 06:24PM

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 · 12-05-2018 06:32PM

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 · 12-05-2018 09:39PM

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.

12-05-2018 09:52PM

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 · 12-05-2018 10:08PM

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 · 12-05-2018 10:21PM

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 · 12-05-2018 10:25PM

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 · 12-05-2018 10:27PM

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 · 12-05-2018 10:35PM

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 · 12-05-2018 10:39PM

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

Stigura · 13-05-2018 12:02AM

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 · 13-05-2018 08:10AM

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 · 13-05-2018 08:12AM

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 · 15-05-2018 08:31PM

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 · 15-05-2018 08:45PM

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

15-05-2018 08:48PM

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 · 15-05-2018 08:49PM

A good balance of both

andekwarhola · 15-05-2018 08:56PM

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 · 15-05-2018 09:30PM

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 · 15-05-2018 09:30PM

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

Weird.

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

listermint · 15-05-2018 09:33PM

n!ghtmancometh wrote: »

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!

I've lived in Dublin for decades and no I've never once heard the birds singing like I do here. You'd swear I wasn't speaking from experience..

Freddiestar · 15-05-2018 09:51PM

It all depends on which city and which countryside. I'd prefer Dublin over some remote village in Roscommon but would prefer a cottage in Connemara over Dublin.
A 3rd choice is a seaside town like Marbella or Biarritz? Best of everything!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 15-05-2018 09:56PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

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

It can be a great place to live. I did it on small islands ranging from 40 to 100 inhabitants - even spent time on an island with only myself and a colleague for months. But it all depends on who the other inhabitants are.

cocker5 · 15-05-2018 10:20PM

Depends..

live on the end of the dart line in north Wicklow (not totally rural but its enough for me) .. 5 mins drive from sugar loaf love the outdoors / fresh air / mountains BUT like the access to town when I want it.. so both!!

Outlaw Pete · 15-05-2018 10:24PM

Isn't there some song about city life vs country life, I think a line says something about how they like city life but it's country life they love.

I asked Google but they said it was either Locash or Johnny Chester, it ain't either.

I might be imagining it.

Jim Bob Scratcher · 15-05-2018 10:47PM

Ubbquittious wrote: »

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

Are you living in Galway by any chance? :pac:

15-05-2018 10:57PM

snotboogie wrote: »

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.

I often see this but it's simply not true, people who live rurally just go to into towns and cities to socialise, meet partners, work and build careers etc and then travel back home again to the country to much better living conditions.

It's the best of both worlds.

freshpopcorn · 15-05-2018 11:13PM

Calvin Slimy Face wrote: »

I often see this but it's simply not true, people who live rurally just go to into towns and cities to socialise, meet partners, work and build careers etc and then travel back home again to the country to much better living conditions.

It's the best of both worlds.

In my experience a rural man/woman. Generally get more luck out of the local Macra club than they get in the city regarding sex/relationships!

FingerDeKat · 15-05-2018 11:16PM

tigerboon wrote: »

2 types of people are going to reply
Dubs for whom Dublin is the Centre of Everything

Some of the other 7 odd billion humans who want to live there

FYP

wakka12 · 15-05-2018 11:24PM

Surprised by the amount of countryside posts. I must say, Im a city boy at heart..love the buzz of a city..the crowds, the energy..Cant wait to move to a big city like london sometime. I can see the appeal of country living though and really enjoy any holidays down to rural areas of ireland for a week or two.

City Life/Country Life - Which do you prefer?

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