Hey,
I live in a small town in europe, built a house and well it takes me about 25 minutes to the next bigger city (not huge one, lets say 50.000 people live there.
I sometimes find myself getting frustrated because the next gym is 7 minute drive by car to another smaller town. Grocery shopping I also do in another town nearby. Same people, same stuff, nothing new.
I am thinking about selling my house but I love the quiet area too. I love my freedom in my house and yard and I know everyone in town but nobody has my interests.
I can’t just go to board game nights, meet many people in a bar, go shopping, go to a cafe and all that. I always have to drive those 25 minutes first.
But would I do all those things I wrote above if I’d live in the city? A few friends live in that city and say everything is so expensive and they do the same as I do (same gym, same grocery, same routine) just in the city.
But I feel like I am missing out.
It might depend on the town. I live in a small town, it takes me 15 minutes to walk to work, there is a gym closer, a grocery store a little farther, a bank, hardware, some restaurants. That is All very nice! But for the social things you mention, I would have to go to the next town, about an hour away by car. I go sometimes but otherwise enjoy solitude. And the internet obviously 🙂 I have never lived in a big city, but have lived in bigger towns, and the food options and social life are better, even at 5000 people. In the US, folks in small tend to be insular, but given time they will open up and be friendly.