Are you a City Woman or a Country Girl?
Every time I go into the city, I crave a penthouse apartment on the 31st floor of some tall skyscraper, so that I can look out over the city lights. I would find a deli open in the middle of the night and go to the theatre every day of the week.
Cities offer stimulation and education, ethnic diversity and good healthcare, shopping, great food, and lots of different people! Of course, the downside is that they are also plagued with traffic, smog, crime and lots of strangers.
Small town life, on the other hand, offers sanity, predictability and serenity. You know your neighbours. Your local market or farm sells everything you love and need. If you need entertainment, there are local theatre productions and plenty of social events to keep you occupied. You may not have the tribal feeling that living in a city provides, but, there is a strong sense of community.
As we enter our 50s and 60s, it’s natural to start thinking about where we want to spend the rest of our lives. One of the most fundamental decisions is whether to live in a city or a smaller town.
Personally, I was born in a city, so urban life is in my blood. I enjoy going to the opera or a restaurant packed with people. I love watching the world’s biggest parades, stretching for miles and miles. But, if I’m honest, as I approach retirement age, country life is really growing on me.
More than any other point in my life, being around a smaller group of people who share my values really appeals to me. Of course, I would still need great internet access, no matter where I lived!
I’d love to hear what you think about this. Please join the conversation below and “like” and share this article to keep the conversation going.
Do you consider yourself to be a city woman or a country girl? Do you find that your opinions about either living option are changing as you get a little older? Why or why not?
I’m 68. I grew up in the city and moved to the country 38 years ago. I have a small farm with my husband and our son and his family. Yesterday, we drove to the city to a party for my childhood friend’s grandson. It was very obvious that over time my life and my friends’ lives were dramatically different. This morning, I am waking up to a peaceful walk around my property filled with wildlife, trees, and open spaces. My friend is waking up to a beautiful home, so close to her neighbors she can sneeze and they’ll bless her. She has a beautiful swimming pool but no yard to play with her grandson. My country home is all handmade from the foundation up. It’s a lovely farmhouse we built over 4 decades. It’s filled with handmade treasures of fabric, wood, and metal. My friend’s house is a beautiful modern home with all the modern built in conveniences. Every piece is polished, modern, and purchased. I drive 15 to 20 minutes to the stores and bank. My drive is peaceful and beautiful through winding country roads. She can barely pull out of her driveway for nearly hitting another parked car. She drives the same amount of time to the stores and bank but she’s jammed in traffic the entire way. Her clothes, her hair, her accessories are full of modern style. She has lovely and refined taste. She spends money on her hair and nails and it’s obvious she’s never had to haul hay or dig gardens with a shovel. My style is more relaxed. I prefer vintage clothes and hair. I am so happy for her that she has a lovely home and the life she wanted. I’m also happy for me for my choice to life in the country. The city has a lot going on. It was sad to see that all the old fisherman restaurants we loved to go when we were young were torn down and replaced by expensive fine dining. It has changed and upgraded but it’s also gotten very crowded. My granddaughter lives on my farm in their farm house. She comes over every day. We play in the sun watching the butterflies. She runs in the field with the chickens and dogs and has so much fun exploring all the wildlife with us. My family is filled with the creativity I didn’t find at my friend’s house. We farm, play music and perform together. We craft and sell our creations. We grow food and raise animals for good and process all of it. We have bonfires and cook out on the open fire under the stars. Inwinter, we burn wood for heat and cook on the wood stove. Each person has to make their decision. I’m glad for both my friend and for me. She chose convenience and safety of the city she knew. I chose adventure.
I am trying to figure that out myself right now! I have never lived in a city but I am soon moving to a small city in Idaho without a car so now weighing my best options. Unfortunately, public transportation is not the greatest there. At 78, I prefer the peace and serenity of the country.