Which Do u Prefer of the 2?

I live in a rural area about an hour from a city of about a million people. Granted, it is not the hippest (or maybe not hip at all), but it is nice to have access to some city stuff. I like being out in the country because I can dig up my yard and grow vegetables, have a big ol' compost pile and not have to worry about offending my neighbors. What I dislike about the country is that, yes, a lot of folks are bit red neckish. I feel out of place often. I don't know many of my neighbors, and I don't have any desire to know some of them. The worst, though, is that I have to drive about 15 miles to work each day. I feel like I am using way too much gasoline and that makes me feel wasteful. But, overall, I would choose the country life over the suburbs any time.

 

Gimme a Cabin in the DEEP woods. At least a mile from ANY road.

 

I live in a small town and love it. I have lived in the city, and I do like all the cultural opportunities... plus I definetly see the advantages of centralizing populations. Less travel, less sprawl, less destruction of pristine areas. But it's just too depressing to be surrounded by the capatilistic engine that lives there. I grew up way out in the woods and any time I have to drive more than 15 minutes to get into the wilderness I get depressed.


PS: Not many hicks up here. A lot of hippies who got stuck on there way through town and decided to start families. Very educated and open society for a small town.

 

Draw a line around the big city and build upwards but not outwards.

 

I think it really depends on what kind of lifestyle I am planning to maintain...

If I am able to be off-grid, grow my own food and basically have no need to go into the city for anything, then out in the boonies is the best...

However, living in the country leads to urban sprawl. It causes us to drive cars, spend less time at home, etc, etc.

For me, personally, my lifestyle, I am better off in an Urban environment. That way I don't have to drive far to work, to shop, to school, etc. I use less gasoline and cause less pollution...

 

I'd prefer to live in a big city where there is ample and effective mass transit.

 

totally rural

 

I live in a city of 30,000 right now because I am in school. I f-ing hate it. I definitely prefer the country, "if you don't like the way I'm livin you just leave this long haired country boy alone." My favorite dream has always been about taking off for Canada and living off the land. If I had the money I probably would. That's what I call doin it up right.....Thoreau syle.....

 

definitely country!


the city does have its advantages, i love driving around at night and seeing the lights

especially if you can get up on a hill/mountain and see the whole city lit up, its beautiful!

but overall, the country

 

the further i could get from populated areas the happier i would be reguardless of the world situation. but of course even more so because of it.

solar cells, windmills and a statalite internet connection,
not cheep in first cost of course, but really they only thing cities have that i give a dam about are university engineering libraries, trolly cars and exotic restaurants.

granted it is easier to find and get togather with like minded poeple in them, but then there's tradeoffs to everything. and hanging out has never been the end all and be all in my life.

of course i grew up in the mountains, taking long walks by myself in the forrest, and so non-urban, non-agricultural, 'undeveloped', 'wilderness' (ok not THAT far from some little tiney village of less then 1200 population, with a post office and a bus or train stop, say anywhere from half a mile a good day's walk of 10 or more, but at least 50 or more miles from the nearest city of more then even 10,000 population), is kind of like home to me.

and there's a real advantage to knowing all of the surrounding coutryside in a radius of 20 or 30 miles like the back of your hand, especialy if it's in mountains and forrests

=^^=
.../\...

 

Damn Straight Man!
I totally agree with U. I feel the pull of the next industrial civilization springing up out of this one that already exists-and it SUCKs! It is hard to watch alot of the trees getting cut down in mass quantities to errect a "not- so gourmet" or exotic resteraunt, but a "Cici's Pizza or another "Texas Steakhouse" or another crappy store for someone who is employed there not to exercise human kindness and love- but to earn a non-decent wage...It truly sucks.
And that is why I started this thread. I desired to see if I there was anyone out there that felt the same way about all this-Mess. I desired to find out "Which U prefer of the 2?"
I understand that our Soceity,the Establishment has built a "McDonalds",convenient to every neighborhood just so we can easily and conveniently outside of our backdoor fill ourselves with garbage that is masked as healthy or "ok" just because it has a couple of naturual ingredients with the rest (of the ingredients)being fillers or just toxic to our health.
This is why I despise growth in population and the erection of new buildings instead of planting trees and cleaning up litter in our Country...because Soceity acts like it is not important and delayable when in fact, it really isn't....
Thank U everyone for your replies. As I read them, I wil listen to what your view is -
Peace &Love

 

Definately rural...
I just moved from a largely populated Florida city to a small Northern California town a few months ago.. We live on top of a large hill in the Sierra Foothills behind a gate in the middle of nowhere. I was just saying to my husband that man...We live like monks up here...The is a larger town of I think 9000 about 25 minutes away but I dislike leaving my area more and more..

 

I think alternative wilderness should be supplied to all those who choose it, at their own risk, and I would go there sometimes for r&r and simple strength and survival exercises.... However, if all the knowledgable and caring split for the woods, you know some day it would all be over on us and there'd be nothing left we could do. That would be my fear. There'd be the final war and we wouldn't even know it was coming because we no longer use radios. What a slap in the face! No, but really, I couldn't stay away long if I were to split for the wilderness. I am too usefull in the city just to bitch and complain about it. While we're on the subjuct, anyone into law? You should look up the meaning of civilization in Black's Law Dictionary. Bemusing.

 

Well, for starters, i'm very street smart. Super street savvy...and i have never driven a car. I'm 29. I do like the city for sheer convenience. I walk to the 24 hour supermarket down the street for groceries and beer. I don't exist in bank accounts. I do own a gun. I have no credit cards. I car pool with my roomie to work. My favorite family bar is right down the road from me. I have an analog phone and analog clocks. Everything i NEED is right here. The problem lies within, everything i WANT/DON'T NEED is here as well. I have my own mind, i make my own decisions. If i make a bad decision i succumb to the consequences and hopefully learn my lesson from bad judgement. Live life through experience and parables.

I have also been raised in the country. Now trust me, if all hell broke loose, i'm gonna go riot the stores just like everyone else in the city of course taking only what is useful to me and mines future survival and find me a ride to the Red River Gorge where i will prosper off the land. I have no quarrels with that.

But for now, you can catch me Under The Bridge.

 

id prefer to live in a rural untamed country area, ive been fortunate in my life to life in a medium sized town, a real country town and also a large city. I know that know i'd prefer to live in a rural setting, closer to nature, and able to in my own way do my own thing.

 

And yes, it is rural-very rural. I went to school in Montreal and lived there for 5 years. Then i had to go, i just had to GO. Left all my family and moved with my husband to British Columbia; we were looking for something more. A little space to garden,compost, run around outside, etc. Everyone i spoke with said that western Canada was the most beautiful place and it is, we have bought a house here and are making a go of it, pretty wild 'cause we only moved here a year ago. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in the city and the diversity it offered, so much going on. Out here, its quiet. But i needed to make a choice for the longrun i guess and can't be cramped up with neighbors halfway up my butt. It makes me INSANE. I will always love visiting the city, but then am relieved that i get to return to a slower paced, more nurturing existence.