City v rural

[tim]

Now I was born in the capital of the universe. London. The best city that has ever existed. I grew up there, knowing it's people and their ways. Living alongside villains and millionaires (some both), you get to be unfazed by anything. Sirens whizzing past your door at 4am, fights happening in the high street between drunken louts or over-protective mothers/daughters, addicts and homeless everywhere, shootings and stabbings and muggings, and all the hustle-bustle of city life. Pretty much any city is the same. Hardly knew my neighbours. Nobody speaks during the work commute, nobody really cares to be honest. I took all this for 40 years. Without flinching. It has many advantages. Being a carpenter, I was never out of work, and could more or less move from one employer to the next whenever I wanted, either for a few months off, or for more pay/better hours etc. There was always somewhere to buy essentials (beer, loo roll, you get the gist, corner shop owned by immigrants who want to work). Takeaway food to boggle your mind at any time of the day. Anything you want. It's on your doorstep. Public transport all day, all night, every day.

Then I moved to Somerset. For some peace. And quiet. Well that was a mistake. It wasn't that I can't adapt to country life, more that the peace and quiet don't exist. Substitute sirens at 4am for badgers raiding your bins. And foxes mating in Jan/Feb. Then the damn cubs (of both) play fighting until June. And screech owls kicking off from 2am-5am. And if there is a services vehicle within 5 miles, the siren wakes you. And the helicopters that seem to like to "buzz" the hill I live on as the pass over to Augusta-Westland.

I thought I'd moved to a quieter life. But in reality, it's just a different kind of noise. In 10 years, I have come to shut out some of these noises, and there is nowhere near the disaffection that happens in towns and cities. But work is harder to come by, and I can't nip to the shop on the corner or get a take-away. Forget public transport! It's a joke. Last bus into my village from the nearest town is 17.15. Even if you worked in a shop you would be hard pushed to catch it.

Even so, I think I prefer rural life. It is more relaxed, and I am needing to be more relaxed, I don't think I could live in a city again.

So, has anyone moved from city-rural/rural-city? What are your thoughts?

[glen]

Couldn't do it, just prefer the hustle and bustle of the city, imagine there is probably more of a community feel in the countryside, depending on how far away from civilisation you are, dont mind a week away every now and again, but at the end of the week I'm climbing the walls, wanting something to happen, mind you, I'm talking Portsmouth, London on the other hand, I've got a headache after few hours, I moved to the outskirts of Pompey, you get the best of both worlds, apart from the bloody foxes forever ripping my bin bags open

[Deleted]

I'm a proper country boy, have sea views from the front and rolling fields out the back, yes screech Owls can be annoying but I love hearing nature ( apart from shytehawks ! ) . As I type this the cows are mooing a light rain is hitting the window, it's bloody ansum.

I have worked in Wales ( loved it ) and in barrow, but to me nothing beats country life. And the older I'm getting the more I like it

[chykensa]

Me, born and bred in Cornwall, so wasn't used to anything other than the quiet that you only get in the country.
Then I moved to Leicester for my further education - and boy, was that an education!! Even in the early 80s there was much more 'nightlife' going on than there was in Redruth, and my eyes were truly opened.
There followed a few years in London, living in Hackney, Battersea and Bush Hill Park (just south of Enfield), and I immersed myself in the 24/7 city life.
Moved out to St. Albans to start my teaching career, and then to Luton when I got married as we couldn't afford the prices in Snorbens!
Luton was great, small city and we lived on the outskirts near the airport - not really that noisy as the planes were either landing or taking off, not flying overhead - amazing what you get used to - the Irish airmail flight would take off at around 4am each night and we would almost rely on it to reassure us that all was normal with the world.
We eventually moved back to Cornwall in 1998 and now enjoy a country lifestyle - sure we get the helos from RNAS Culdrose overflying along with their Hawks and Merlins, and get some commercials at 35,000', but we are largely totally quiet. As I type this all I can hear outside is the gentle roar of a Force 5 through the trees and believe it or not, the call of a Barn Owl which regularly calls to it's mate on the other side of the valley.
City life has it's advantages, but I prefer the more relaxed and civilised way that life is conducted down here. Strangers stop to chat at our gate, we wave to everyone who lets us through a narrow lane, and things are slower. Sure you have to plan ahead to make sure you aren't without the essentials in life, and 'next day delivery' means two days at least, but who cares, I can walk to the top of our local hill in 20 mins and the world immediately seems a better place

[igual]

Born n raised in Eastbourne, coastal town about 90k population.
We lived in one of the surrounding villages so wasent to hectic, beach 15 mins away and looked over the south downs.
Loads of foxes and seagulls lol.
Worked in London for 2 years never ever again.
The noise used to drive me mad, nobody stops for a natter its all heads down elbows out and gogogo.
Worked in a beautiful place in stow on the wold, middle of nowhere nearest shop 5 miles nearest neighbour 1 mile.
That was bliss, grounds were landscaped and designed by capability brown.
Brilliant 3 years that was. I managed the grounds everything from dealing with the 30 Jacob sheep we had to helping with the horses ( and riding them as i wanted ) keeping bunnies/deer/moles under control and pissing of the local fox hunt whenever I could.
It was long hard graft but worth every ounce of energy I put in.

Currently I'm in Paignton, right on the outskirts of the town.
3 minute walk from my house and your in beautiful country side 10 mins by car beech so its a bit of a compromise lol.

Given the choice I'd take rural or semi rural over town city any day.

[wil7985]

Same here @tedster and chykensa I have lived(worked) all over the country, but there's no where like Cornwall imo. Although my village seems to be growing by the day (Connor Downs) I don't think a ton of tnt would move me.

[osdset]

Born in East London and have lived here for all of my 59 years. Desperately wish to retire to Canterbury.
London is best seen in the rear view mirror IMO, it's not the city I grew up in anymore.

[Perpetua]

Born in Kingsbury Middx . . . as a child we lived at Harrow, Kenton then Watford.

I worked at Brent Cross when it first opened, going back & forth on the M1 to Luton ( chykensa! ) married by then - hated the travelling!

So with a job move to the centre of Bristol, we moved to it's outskirts . . . . where I've been for the last 36 years. The first time I went into a corner shop to buy some cigs, I literally couldn't understand what the chap was saying, with the accent.

Now, the semi-rural life suits me, not too far from civilization and some lovely countryside for dog walking on the doorstep.

I wouldn't change where I live, although I'd happily skip the neighbouring young man's full drum kit! Give me a bin raiding badger any day.

[Deleted]

Love Aberdeen

I have just been to the pie shop because I can't sleep (ok - 5.30am). there isn't much choice on 24 hour takeaways - pie or pie or pie. LOL

But despite it's size it has a small town feel. In social housing everyone knows everyone else . Deeside a short hop away. I love this flat. I have just been doing the ironing whilst watching sunrise over the north sea...

Only thing I don't like are the seagulls flying rats - who literally have no manners! But after a wayward youth I'm very happy here

[Chrissie]

I was born in Hull, then moved to the Brighton area & now living in a semi rural village in Cornwall.

I never missed Hull, but I do miss some parts of Brighton. However, I don't think I could ever go back to living in a big city again.

Where I live now is pretty quiet & all of the neighbours know each other & most are friends as well as neighbours

[lairey]

I have lived in the same town, with a population of around 38,000 for all of my life. When Mr Lairey and I first got together, he was living in Crystal Palace. At the time, I was lucky enough to be able to work from our London office whenever it suited me, so I'd drive up on a Thursday night and work in London on Friday and Monday, driving straight to work down here on a Tuesday morning.

I did enjoy living the not needing a car lifestyle, being able to jump on the train and being in London Bridge or Victoria in 20mins was great. Public transport is fantastic in London. Here in Camberley, the last bus home is just after 7 at night, which is no use on a night out.

I don't miss the noise though. His flat had no double glazing with the A214 on one side of the flat and Crystal Palace train station on the other, peace and quiet wasn't something we got a lot of.

Mr Lairey loves "living in the sticks" as he sees it, although being less than an hour from London, it's hardly that. Having lived in London for a lot of his adult life, he much prefers the pace of life outside of London.

[Raffles]

Born in Kent, but brought up in south Somerset, on the borders of Devon & Dorset. Looking back, I didn't realise how lucky & happy I was. Everyone knew everyone, looked out for each other, no-one bothered to lock doors, and within minutes I could be at the beach or in beautiful countryside.

Then work took over, and although starting in the local town, was soon moved to various other parts of the country, the longest stint being Wareham in Dorset (about 3 years in digs). So not too big a shock, a small town and close to sea and open countryside again.

Changed careers, and was sent here, there and everywhere. Met my (ex) wife on one move to Chester, then ten years in Bristol, living just outside the city (Perpetua knows exactly where, spooky). Got transferred up to Manchester, but lived in Chester, so a bit of commute each day.

After the divorce, moved just outside the city, to stay close to the kids and now grandkids. It's not ideal, not the sort of real village life I was used to in my youth. If I could be granted a wish, it would be to go back to my Somerset roots, but with all my offspring around me.

Can't believe I've just given you my life story, but in answer to the OP, give me rural everytime. 

[chrisjw]

I was born & raised an Essex boy & spent the majority of my teenage years mixing with the East End of London crowd.....Although Essex has it's reputation, I moved from Barking to a new, up & coming town called Upminster, when I was 5 years old......In those days it was classed as green belt & rather influential ( still is )......but I had itchy feet & moved abroad in 1985, living on what was then, a tiny, unspoilt, relatively unheard of island called Lanzarote.........Pure bliss.......sun, sea & copious amounts of s** ....(being British back then, you were very sought after by the local girlies...... )......sadly, tourism got invented & it ruined the tranquility, so after 23 years, I loaded the car up & drove to South West France.....a tiny village in the middle of nowhere with just the sound of wildlife & zimmer frames clacking on tarmac as company...........Beautiful scenery, idyllic surroundings, but boring as f***..........so after 2 years,once again, I loaded the car up & drove full circle, back to the UK in 2009......Barnet, Hertfordshire to be precise........& I love it.....I have everything I need....Country parks, woodland areas & if I want, the hustle & bustle of London (which I don't & hate)......Country life & the solitude it brings, suits me..........animals over human beings is the way to go.................built up,busy towns?.......You can keep 'em.


"Life...........is just a bowl of tricks!!!!!!"

[annedee]

Well, I was born near Portobello Road, living in Kensal Road and stayed there for my first 10 years. Slum clearance took me to Putney, leaving home took me to Pinner and East Finchley. Marriage took me to Barnet, kid to Potters Bar, illness and retirement took me to Thanet.

From Pinner onwards I was always working, Brent Cross in the mid - late 70's ( Mothercare and Richard Shops ) and then into the centre of London, on High Street Kensington, where I worked for over thirty five years. I absolutely loved being in London, right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of life in Town, but still living in the country.

Ill health forced me to give up work, and at first I imagined I would miss the hustle and bustle of London life. Wwrrrooonnnggggg!! We sold up and moved to Thanet, to a pleasant village just outside Margate. We wanted the sea in front of us, open countryside behind us, a village with shops that was big enough for our needs, without forever visiting the Shopping Centres, and to be close enough to London to visit our son, although he moved from Docklands to Wandsworth and made that one difficult!!

Short of money and bored, we set up a Home Dog Boarding service, looking after other peoples dogs when they went out for the day or off on holiday.
We now have a great life, it's simple, we have truly lovely customers that have become friends and we get to watch the dogs playing and chasing in the garden.

The nearby beach walks are fantastic and are often empty out of season, the people in the shops have time to talk to you and are friendly, it is just a great way of life.

We did go back into London for a hospital visit and we realised that it holds no pull on us at all. We couldn't get home quick enough. Moving here was the best thing we ever did and had it not been for Doctor's Orders we would probably still be killing ourselves working in town.

[djs]

I moved from London, lived in a rubbish small house, had nowhere to park my car and found people rude. I was also weighed down by a stupid mortgage and working up to 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day.
Now I live in a nice semi-rural home and have an entire postcode to myself, most of the time.
(Also lived in Putney for a while annedee.)
London has lost the plot. Actually, the country has lost the plot, let's face it. It's sad.