[production_coordinator]

Background
I grew up in a small town, went to a smaller college, and have since moved to larger and larger cities. I now live in DC. As I approach my mid 30's, I'm starting to consider moving back. Not necessarily to the small town, but to something a bit larger around that town.

Question
Has anyone done it? Pros vs. Cons. I'm just looking for some additional input.

[Kevin]

I did.. .after I wasn't at all impressed with bigger cities.

I like being able to leave for say, a loaf of bread and not lock my house.

[rickey939]

E.T. phoned home...

[production_coordinator]

Pros:
- Better schools for my kids [when/if I ever have them]
- Around my family
- More bang for the buck with housing
- Lower cost of living

Cons:
- Further away from civilization
- Lower income
- Around my family
- Hicks/Bumpkins

[Kevin]

Eh, I have found country folk to be more real/human than alot of the city driods I've met.

[JoshuaZ]

Wow... maybe think of finding something inbetween. Like move to the upper midwest, but near a bigger city. Like Milwaukee or the Twin Cities. That way you have good schools, low cost of living, a decent income, and low housing costs.

[isao bered]

it's always a good thing to be able to see the sky at night and smell the cows in the morning. and depending on the area, living outside of town can mean cheaper property, lower taxes, less noise, and more peace.

i'm looking forward to the days where once again my nearest neighbor is far enough away that i can walk out naked onto to the front porch and take a whizz off the side without worry of offending anyone. good fences may make good neighbors, but so does goodly distance.

be well.

laeth

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Pros:
- Better schools for my kids [when/if I ever have them]
- Around my family
- More bang for the buck with housing
- Lower cost of living

Cons:
- Further away from civilization
- Lower income
- Around my family
- Hicks/Bumpkins

You nailed it.

Question is: Are you a city or country kind of guy?

Also: You can never go home. You've changed. What happened to you, man?

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Wow... maybe think of finding something inbetween. Like move to the upper midwest, but near a bigger city. Like Milwaukee or the Twin Cities. That way you have good schools, low cost of living, a decent income, and low housing costs.

Unfortunately, there isn't anywhere in the middle. Also, one of the main reasons to move back would be so that I was around my family.

[Face Ache]

Family are invaluable when you have kids.

Unless they're all bat-arsed crazy, like mine.


<<<currently 3700km from nearest relative.

[Zubir]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Background
I grew up in a small town, went to a smaller college, and have since moved to larger and larger cities. I now live in DC. As I approach my mid 30's, I'm starting to consider moving back. Not necessarily to the small town, but to something a bit larger around that town.

Question
Has anyone done it? Pros vs. Cons. I'm just looking for some additional input.

The ideal situation would be a small town 20-30 minutes away from a moderate city. You'll have your peace and quiet, but won't be too far away from "civilization."

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Face Ache

You nailed it.

Question is: Are you a city or country kind of guy?

Also: You can never go home. You've changed. What happened to you, man?

I'm a little both... but becoming a little more country as I mature... I'm also nervous that my girlfriend is a little more city. Don't get me wrong, I'm never going to live on a farm, but the town that I would be looking at wouldn't have many of the things a major city would.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Cons:
- Further away from civilization

Civilization sucks anyways.

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

- Hicks/Bumpkins

Don't be fooled. The hicks in the cities are still hicks - they just have cause to cover it up and pretend not to be.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Don't be fooled. The hicks in the cities are still hicks - they just have cause to cover it up and pretend not to be.

I've met alot of city folk that act like androids. No emotion, no "hello" How are you today?" No nothing.

Not that I live in the country, I don't. More like a small town.

[AKcrab]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Cons:
- Further away from civilization

That's a Pro.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I'm a little both... but becoming a little more country as I mature...

It's great to get out of the rat race. The rats move slower in the country.

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I'm also nervous that my girlfriend is a little more city.

You are right to be nervous.

Are you in the property market? Because it's harder to get back into the city once you're out.

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Face Ache

It's great to get out of the rat race. The rats move slower in the country.


You are right to be nervous.

Are you in the property market? Because it's harder to get back into the city once you're out.

Regarding the property market, I feel that the real issue is, once you are out of the city, it is very hard (if not impossible) to get back in to the city with ANYTHING near what you once had. I can literally get 3X as much house for 1/2 as much.

There are AMAZING houses for under $200K where I grew up, I can't even touch a dump down here in that range. And I'm NOT going to send my kids to the DC public schools... even the DC Public School school board members don't send their kids to the public schools.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I've met alot of city folk that act like androids. No emotion, no "hello" How are you today?" No nothing.

I know.

The guy lying on sidewalk scene in "Midnight Cowboy" sums it all up pretty well.

Or this lyric:

Mama, tell your children not to go
Down to the city, where the desperate people go
And mama, don't let them stray
They won't find, peace of mind, in such a lonely place
Wannabes and losers, all trying to get a break
They don't give a damn, they'll do whatever it takes
If they climb the ladder, they get to play for higher stakes
That's why there's low life in high places

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Background
I grew up in a small town, went to a smaller college, and have since moved to larger and larger cities. I now live in DC. As I approach my mid 30's, I'm starting to consider moving back. Not necessarily to the small town, but to something a bit larger around that town.

Question
Has anyone done it? Pros vs. Cons. I'm just looking for some additional input.

Where do you live in DC? I am in SW.

Where did you come from? I am from upstate New York (Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca).

I want to go back North but not necessarily to one of those places I came from.
Although I might wind up in the City because of work, which could be kinda cool.

[Railroader]

I grew up in a tiny village. We had one cop who only worker 4 hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Around the time I was 10 years old we moved to a tiny town. About 2200 residents. In college I moved to the biggest city I have lived in we Kalamazoo, Michigan (yes, there really is a Kalalmazoo).

I currently live in the tiny town of 2200 people and have my house for sale to buy land/house near the tiny village I grew up. I simply want to be able to wander the countyside without having to take a trip camping to enjoy it. All other considerations are secondary. I can't stand the city sheepeople/droid mentality.

[Warung]

I grew up in a fairly small town and always hated it. I moved away on my 18th birthday and never looked back. I like living in cities where the streets are alive with the voices of a million different people, from all kind of backgrounds, different interests...always something going on...

This is in stark contrast to the boring and dreary place where I grew up. Where nothing really ever happened, everybody knew everybody else, and the most important thing was that you were respectable and upstanding in the eyes of teh neighbors.

I still go back on occasion (because my mom lives there), and I see the boring and lackluster lives the people who I grew up with live.

To each his own I guess, - but there is no way I'm going back (even for free rent, - which is what I was offered recently). NO WAY.

[TubaMuffins]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I did.. .after I wasn't at all impressed with bigger cities.

I like being able to leave for say, a loaf of bread and not lock my house.

Conversely, I like being able to leave for a loaf of bread and not having to drive. I do have to give a shout out for the Twin Cities. Great town with a big city feel and small town attitude. I love it here.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by TubaMuffins

Conversely, I like being able to leave for a loaf of bread and not having to drive. I do have to give a shout out for the Twin Cities. Great town with a big city feel and small town attitude. I love it here.

I guess I could walk. It's only a mile.

[Railroader]

Originally Posted by TubaMuffins

Conversely, I like being able to leave for a loaf of bread and not having to drive. I do have to give a shout out for the Twin Cities. Great town with a big city feel and small town attitude. I love it here.

I live in a very small city. But we do have grocery stores. Ours is about 700 feet from our front door. Probably closer than most people who live in big cities.

But to go to the movies or clothes shopping it is about a half hour drive.

[Athens]

Seattle is a good American City, Vancouver is a little better hehe

[Kevin]

Vancouver or Seattle would both be WAAAAY too obnoxious for me.

[Athens]

Oh, nether is a large city, and nether is a small town either. Both have mild climats, lots of activities and both generally have good ppl. Why would it be obnoxious?

[Kevin]

I've been to both. And it's large enough for me not to want to say.

And it rains all the time in Seattle.

[Mastrap]

I grew up in a tiny place. As soon as I could I escaped to the city, ending up in London, UK. I lived there for 17 years and for the first 15 years I loved it. Fun, food, culture, friends from around the globe, work, it was all there. When I turned 30 and found myself in a serious relationship that would lead to marriage I reconsidered. All of a sudden the price of housing, for a family home, became astronomical.
So we looked for a secondary city, close to nature, affordable but still giving us all the city things we love and settled on and in Toronto. We've been here over a year and I have loved every minute of it. People are friendly, the city hosts every culture known to man, restaurants rock, both my wife and I have interesting and challenging jobs. And an hour out of the city there's all the country I could ever ask for.
I don't think I could move to a small town. I'd miss my Chinese supermarket and my Polish deli too much.

And Face Ache is right. You can never go back. Whenever I visit the place I grew up I am shocked that nothing ever changes. The maximum I can stay is three days, then I am getting claustrophobic and have to get out.

PS: Athens I don't think either Seattle or Vancouver are obnoxious at all. Vancouver has too many potheads for my personal taste, but the city is stunningly beautiful.

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by dcmacdaddy

Where do you live in DC? I am in SW.

Where did you come from? I am from upstate New York (Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca).

I want to go back North but not necessarily to one of those places I came from.
Although I might wind up in the City because of work, which could be kinda cool.

Work at Dupont and live in Alexandria.

I grew up along Lake Erie [the tiny PA section]

I've thought about NYC and know I could do well there, but I guess I'm also considering the other side of the fence. I guess I simply don't want to be 40+, living in a small town house with kid(s) in daycare, traffic everywhere, etc. etc. etc.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

PS: Athens I don't think either Seattle or Vancouver are obnoxious at all.

People's tolerance levels of bigger cities differ. Too much hassle, too many punks.

[ShotgunEd]

I grew up in quite a large town (for here) and left as soon as I hit 18 for Belfast.

I love it, I'm still renting, but I'm living with my g/f in a house I couldn't afford to buy (and furnish as it is).

Its not in the same league as you are talking about but I wouldn't head back to the country for a million bux at the moments. In 15 years, I'll feel differently, I know it, but while I'm young I'm a city boy.

[Athens]

hehe well I find the Suburbs more of my liking, such as Coquitlam, Burnaby, and even Richmond. I dont personally want to live in the City City itself. Most of the burbs feel like small towns, have everything u need and the city is just a 15-20 min Drive depending where u are.

[production_coordinator]

Originally Posted by Warung

I grew up in a fairly small town and always hated it. I moved away on my 18th birthday and never looked back. I like living in cities where the streets are alive with the voices of a million different people, from all kind of backgrounds, different interests...always something going on...

This is in stark contrast to the boring and dreary place where I grew up. Where nothing really ever happened, everybody knew everybody else, and the most important thing was that you were respectable and upstanding in the eyes of teh neighbors.

I still go back on occasion (because my mom lives there), and I see the boring and lackluster lives the people who I grew up with live.

To each his own I guess, - but there is no way I'm going back (even for free rent, - which is what I was offered recently). NO WAY.

My question to you would be: Are you married? Do you have kids? Do you own a property?

I did the similar thing when I turned 18... I ran away from the "dreary hick town" to move to the big city. It was great... coffee shops, walking to everything, theater, night clubs, events going on everywhere...

BUT, when I start factoring in kids, a house, traffic, quality of living... smaller towns really start to shine. Being able to name most of your neighbors becomes a GOOD thing... You can't hide in a small town... if you are bad news, everyone knows it. You have better control over your children (if you don't give them the car or drive them... they aren't going very far). etc. etc.

I hope I didn't come off as being anti-big city... I'm just wondering if anyone has gone home and what the experience was like.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Athens

hehe well I find the Suburbs more of my liking, such as Coquitlam, Burnaby, and even Richmond. I dont personally want to live in the City City itself. Most of the burbs feel like small towns, have everything u need and the city is just a 15-20 min Drive depending where u are.

I don't live in the burbs... but in the middle of a town. But the town is small. So I have all the conveniences of living near everything, and none of the hassles and crime of a big city.

[Doofy]

Apologies for bringing politics into this thread but I have a theory about this (no flaming or baiting please guys - just sensible discussion).

One thing I've noticed is that those who prefer the countryside tend to lean more towards the conservative side of the spectrum. Would this generally be true everywhere?

Mas made me think about this when he stated "You can never go back. Whenever I visit the place I grew up I am shocked that nothing ever changes."... ...I'd argue that this is a good thing, as I like places where nothing ever changes. That's the reason I'm on the conservative side - I don't care for change over much. Certainly from looking at the preferences of people in this thread the theory seems to hold some water?

[dcmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by Doofy

Apologies for bringing politics into this thread but I have a theory about this (no flaming or baiting please guys - just sensible discussion).

One thing I've noticed is that those who prefer the countryside tend to lean more towards the conservative side of the spectrum. Would this generally be true everywhere?

Mas made me think about this when he stated "You can never go back. Whenever I visit the place I grew up I am shocked that nothing ever changes."... ...I'd argue that this is a good thing, as I like places where nothing ever changes. That's the reason I'm on the conservative side - I don't care for change over much. Certainly from looking at the preferences of people in this thread the theory seems to hold some water?

From my experience, and from just thinking about it, that seems like a logical assessment. People that don't like/want a lot of change in their lives try to live in ways where there isn't a lot of change in their lives. This would include moving to a locale where change occurs at a much slower pace, if at all.

For me, while I am not averse to change, the appeal of living in the countryside has more to do with being closer to nature and living life at a slower pace than being too averse to change. But maybe that's just my greenie, tree-hugging side showing.

[Athens]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I don't live in the burbs... but in the middle of a town. But the town is small. So I have all the conveniences of living near everything, and none of the hassles and crime of a big city.

Crime is over rated,

Town of 20 000, 5 houses get broking into, city of 2 million 100 houses broken into, its the same percent. Ive seen first hand more crime while living in a smaller city then I have living in the larger city, larger city size means more city and more distributed crime as well. For the most part I cant see things being safer in a small town vs a large city. Its all about perception. Of course thats not true for ALLLL cities, there are some that are just down right scary.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Athens

Crime is over rated,

Town of 20 000, 5 houses get broking into, city of 2 million 100 houses broken into, its the same percent. Ive seen first hand more crime while living in a smaller city then I have living in the larger city, larger city size means more city and more distributed crime as well. For the most part I cant see things being safer in a small town vs a large city. Its all about perception.

This may hold up for some places, but not all - there's other factors to be taken into account, such as the place's geographical isolation.

For example, on some of the islands here there's little to no real (i.e. excluding white collar and minor stuff like dropping litter) crime. On one particular island (which shall remain nameless) there's about three families of scumbags - due to the geographical isolation of the place and the resulting inability of "outside" criminals to come in to "work", every time a crime is burglary is committed it's usually by someone from one of those families. The police know this and go see them first whenever something has happened, which usually yields results (and the prompt return of your stuff).

So, small place = less anonymity = less ability to be able to get away with crime = less crime.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I hope I didn't come off as being anti-big city... I'm just wondering if anyone has gone home and what the experience was like.

I went home, but it wasn't to a small town, it was to a suburban area. It was strange at first. It's not the same as it was when I was in high school. I head into the city a lot more (I work there now).

I like being home. My kids are around grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I go to church with many of my high school friends and their parents. I can walk to the houses of countless friends, many of whom have kids the same age as mine.

It's more than worth it for me. I'd really like to be further away from civilization, but I want my kids to grow up around friends and family. If you have a small town to go home to, I enthusiastically say 'Go immediately and don't think twice'.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

I ran away from the "dreary hick town"

It amazes me how many people think this way. The people in the "dreary hick town" generally know what's really important in life - friends and family. They're generally happier and friendlier. Perhaps they don't have the latest gadgets, the fastest cars, or degrees from Harvard. But, those things won't make you happy. I'd bet that more people in small towns are happy than are people in big cities. Chasing money and success and trying to one up the Johnsons doesn't make you happy.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Kevin

People's tolerance levels of bigger cities differ. Too much hassle, too many punks.

People's tolerance levels of small towns differ. Not enough happening, too many country bumpkins.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Doofy

).
So, small place = less anonymity = less ability to be able to get away with crime = less crime.

Not if you look at the numbers, especially in the UK and especially as far as drug related crime is concerned. While crime is dropping in the major cities it is on the rise in the country.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by wallinbl

It amazes me how many people think this way. The people in the "dreary hick town" generally know what's really important in life - friends and family. They're generally happier and friendlier. Perhaps they don't have the latest gadgets, the fastest cars, or degrees from Harvard. But, those things won't make you happy. I'd bet that more people in small towns are happy than are people in big cities. Chasing money and success and trying to one up the Johnsons doesn't make you happy.

Not discrediting your experience there, but I don't think it's an absolute that people are happier in smaller towns than they are in the country. It really all depends on what you want out of life and where you're happiest. Like to many things in life, what's right for me isn't right for everybody else.

And that's a good thing.

[Warung]

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

My question to you would be: Are you married?

I was married for a short time, and realized that (pretty much like living in a small town) it wasn't for me. Got "officially" divorced 2 weeks ago.

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Do you have kids?

No, and I don't plan to (unless I make a sh1tload of money some day)

Originally Posted by production_coordinator

Do you own a property?

See answer above. And even then, I would never move into the "countryside". I'd buy beach property on an island (maybe Hawaii) and have all my favorite people hang out there.

[wallinbl]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

I don't think it's an absolute that people are happier in smaller towns than they are in the country.

That's why I used the word 'generally'.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Mastrap

Not if you look at the numbers, especially in the UK and especially as far as drug related crime is concerned. While crime is dropping in the major cities it is on the rise in the country.

No, that's wrong. It's BS by the government to make townies feel safer and make it look like they're doing a good job. But alas, that discussion is beyond the scope of this thread.

Originally Posted by Mastrap

It really all depends on what you want out of life and where you're happiest. Like to many things in life, what's right for me isn't right for everybody else.

Agree entirely.

[Warung]

Originally Posted by wallinbl

Chasing money and success and trying to one up the Johnsons doesn't make you happy.

Yes, and that's exactly why I moved away from the dreary town I grew up in. As a matter of fact, almost all of the negative things you described about "city life" reminded me of my own suburbian experience.

[Mastrap]

Originally Posted by Doofy

No, that's wrong. It's BS by the government to make townies feel safer and make it look like they're doing a good job. But alas, that discussion is beyond the scope of this thread.

Not trying to start an, unrelated, argument but to the best of my knowledge crime in the cities is indeed falling while it is rising in the country. Now, how much of this is due to city criminals seeing the country as a soft target and going on crime trips (especially burglary) is of course anybody's guess.

Edit: http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk has interesting statistics and is independent from the government. Their numbers seem to indicate falling crime numbers across the board.

[Mastrap]

Sorry, dp