> I believe that people are happier when they have a sense of connection and belonging in their community. Cities discourage this. > I believe people are happie

> I believe that people are happier when they have a sense of connection and belonging in their community. Cities discourage this. > I believe people are happier in environments that feel more natural and alive. Cities discourage this too. > I believe people are happier when they have a sense of personal space and privacy. Another mark against cities. I strongly disagree. I grew up in a rural area with the nearest neighbor a quarter mile away and there was just no one around. There was no community to speak of (at least that I felt). I felt very disconnected as a teenager and was basically trapped until I turned 16 and got my driver's license. I now live in a major, walkable city and much prefer it. There are universities, the arts, amazing restaurants, and all of it is accessible via subway/bus/train (we don't have a car, just use the occasional ZipCar when we need it). For green spaces, we live next to a park. We live on a side street that is very quiet, so no noise pollution issues. Our neighborhood is very residential but is close (a few blocks away) to night life. I really can't imagine a better setup.