As soon as I’m done writing all these articles, I’ll be packing my bags and moving back to Ottawa, where I’m from, for the summer. I’ll be staying at my parents’ house, and they live in the WOODS. The house is not too deep in the forest, but it’s surrounded by thick greenery, and we frequently get deer, turkeys, and a bunch of other wild animals in our backyard. I honestly feel like Snow White everytime I go back. It’s definitely a contrast from living in Burnaby/Vancouver, which has its fair share of greenery, but is for the most part really urban, especially compared to where my parents live. I feel lucky that I have the opportunity to experience both urban and rural settings, but it does leave me with the question of which is better? Let’s get into the pros and cons of each.
Living in a big city means that you are connected, and basically never bored. There is pretty much always something to do if you know where to look–concerts, parties, house shows, plays, musicals, orchestras, movies, etc…the list could go on forever. There are also people everywhere, so you never really feel isolated. Having basic resources as well as secondary ones be easily accessible is a huge benefit of living in a city. One of the biggest pros, at least for me, is the walkability of the city. This might only really apply to Vancouver, but for the most part bigger, more urban areas are generally more walkable. Not having to drive everywhere and being able to take transit or just walk is huge. Not only is it better for the environment, it is less hassle than having to deal with parking and gas and all of the expenses that come with owning a car. On the other hand, cities have much higher levels of pollution, and transiting everywhere can be inconvenient since it does take longer than just driving somewhere.
A rural area may have more limited access to resources and things to do, but the trade off is living somewhere with more access to the natural world. When I’m living at my parents’ house, I’m able to just step out of my house and go on a nice nature walk without having to worry about cars or other people or anything like that. Rural areas also provide a lot more privacy, if that’s something you like.
Both rural and urban settings have their draws and drawbacks. Which do you prefer?