Mindset Matters

City Living vs. Country Living

Now, I may be biased on this since I grew up and currently live in the country, but I genuinely believe that we all need to have some sort of greenery in our lives and immediate vicinity. I believe that it helps calm the mind and ease the body into a state of contentment. When I’m out in the city, I don’t really get to experience that.

If you read this week’s Adventures issue, then you already heard about my recent trip to Boston. Don’t get me wrong, it was an excellent trip surrounded by newfound family and fun times, but the concrete jungle is not the sort of jungle I generally like to be dropped into.

My first thing: everyone is in such a rush. Cities tend to feel like a constant state of hustle and go, go, go, which kind of puts me on edge. I’m used to taking my time, even while I’m out and about and I have things to do. Most things don’t need to be rushed, and I find that my quality of life is much better when I intentionally slow everything down. I’d rather not rush to get from Point A to Point B; I’m very much a “I’ll get there when I get there” sort of person.

While we’re talking about rushing around, I’d like to take a moment to mention the car horns. So much honking. I saw some pretty wild vehicular maneuvers while Ubering around up there, and they ain’t nothing like the maneuvers we use in the country. Where I’m from, we have to watch for deer, racoons, possums, and the occasional turkey or turkey vulture, not other people.

I’m not saying I live off the grid or anything; I drive a fair share in local small towns, and I’ve definitely driven in beach traffic during tourist season, but that’s nothing compared to what the drivers in cities (especially Boston) have to deal with. It’s a very different atmosphere, and not just in regard to driving. It also feels different, if that makes sense. The air is thicker, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with the abundance of concrete, glass, exhaust fumes, and the lack of trees.

I mean, yeah, there was a park that was near our hotel, but it was nowhere near large enough, at least for me. When you’re used to forests that consist of, say, 51,874 acres (like Uwharrie), the Boston Common (which is only 50 acres) seems tiny in comparison. There are even acres of farmland out by my house, which is also surrounded by even more acres of trees and forest. I did get to take some photos of a few flowers while we were walking through the city, however, so it’s not entirely devoid of greenery.

While I have no desire to live in a city, there are definitely some perks that come along with it—walkability, for one, which is something we don’t have where I live currently. I definitely enjoyed being able to walk from home (or, in this case, a hotel) to a shop, bakery, or brewery. It was fun, and I got my steps in.

Out by me, the nearest brewery is a 10-minute drive away. Town is also a 10-minute drive. My workplace is a 30-minute drive, and my fiancé currently lives 45-minutes away by car. If I want to get to the beach from my house, I drive over an hour, but all of these things are normal for me! Unthinkable if you live in a walkable city like Boston.

I’m not saying all of this to bash or put down people who live in cities, so I hope I’m not giving off those vibes. I’m saying all of this because I can’t understand why someone would want to live in that kind of environment. I mean, kudos to you if you do; I have no idea how you’re doing it, but I’m sure the same could be said of a city person who makes their way out into the country. We all live in completely different environments, and I’m sure neither of us will ever truly understand why the other lives the way that they do, but that’s what makes life interesting.

So, to those of you who live in the city, skål! If you’re like me, and you live in the country, skål to you as well! We’re all different, but different lives should be celebrated and explored, even if we don’t entirely understand each other. Love my country folk, love the city folk as well.

What are y’all’s experiences with cities or the country? I’d love to discuss these differences with y’all!

—Carissa