4 ms·

I did the opposite. I went from owning a house a few hundred feet from a river in an area with one bar of cell service to working remotely and living downtown i

I did the opposite. I went from owning a house a few hundred feet from a river in an area with one bar of cell service to working remotely and living downtown in San Diego. The only things that living in the boonies had going for it were the fresh air and friendly neighbors - my current situation is better in literally every other metric. I have gigabit fiber and the ability to get basically anything delivered. I'm within walking distance of concerts, ball games, and restaurants. I can go to social events and bars without having to deal with townie drama from burnouts that my Dad fired for being drunk on the job a decade ago. I don't have to do yardwork and spend thousands of dollars keeping up a house just to appease potential buyers that watch too much HGTV. I don't have to dodge drunk drivers going down the wrong side of the road at noon on a Saturday (as often, at least). I can walk to the airport to catch a flight instead of driving two hours in traffic and paying for parking. In short, I have access to a much greater percentage of things that I enjoy on a consistent basis and net fewer chronic sources of unhappiness. It's fantastic. People from where I used to live trip over themselves to mention the cost of living increase which is definitely a thing (as far as housing is concerned) but as with many things in this life you definitely get what you pay for. Your mileage may vary; if you're single and have hobbies then the whole city vs. country debate is a no-brainer. If you have a family then the preference would probably shift to more rural living for reasons obvious.

tmpz22 4y ago
> I'm within walking distance of concerts, ball games, and restaurants > I can walk to the airport to catch a flight How are these two statements both true?
- alexjplant 4y ago
  ...geography? I'm two miles and change from the airport and a mile and change from Petco Park.
- NoraCodes 4y ago
  San Diego is really weird, basically. Unlike most cities in the US, the airport is very close to the center of the city.
indemnity 4y ago
I think it really depends on your family situation. I lived in the city for 12 years when I didn’t have any serious attachments, loved it, walked everywhere. I wouldn’t say I grew out of it, but when I got married and had kids, the suburbs became really appealing, just for the extra space and closeness to rural / outdoor amenities. Having had a rural upbringing, this was the closest I could get to it, and at least give the kids some ability to roam without supervision, like those of us who grew up pre-90s had. I could totally see myself move back to an apartment or townhouse when the kids are gone though.
badpun 4y ago
> The only things that living in the boonies had going for it were the fresh air and friendly neighbors - my current situation is better in literally every other metric. No noise would be my biggest incentive to move to middle of nowhere.
- alexjplant 4y ago
  The middle of nowhere has plenty of barking dogs, gunshots, dirtbikes, quads, jubilant hollering, and fireworks :-)
  - dragonsky 4y ago
    I’m not sure about your definition of nowhere.
    - mickdeek86 4y ago
      I spent the past year living in a lakehouse. The sound of those waves lapping serenely over the breakwater can be a real headache
  - badpun 4y ago
    I'd try moving even further than that.
  - rapjr9 4y ago
    Ditto the gunshots in rural Vermont. A neighbor a mile away likes to try his bump stock once in a while and there were occasional paintball wars on the hill behind my house. The middle of nowhere is fantastic though if you want to make noise, like playing an electric guitar or drum kit at 3am.

tmpz22 4y ago

> I'm within walking distance of concerts, ball games, and restaurants > I can walk to the airport to catch a flight How are these two statements both true?

alexjplant 4y ago
...geography? I'm two miles and change from the airport and a mile and change from Petco Park.
NoraCodes 4y ago
San Diego is really weird, basically. Unlike most cities in the US, the airport is very close to the center of the city.

indemnity 4y ago

I think it really depends on your family situation. I lived in the city for 12 years when I didn’t have any serious attachments, loved it, walked everywhere. I wouldn’t say I grew out of it, but when I got married and had kids, the suburbs became really appealing, just for the extra space and closeness to rural / outdoor amenities. Having had a rural upbringing, this was the closest I could get to it, and at least give the kids some ability to roam without supervision, like those of us who grew up pre-90s had. I could totally see myself move back to an apartment or townhouse when the kids are gone though.

badpun 4y ago

> The only things that living in the boonies had going for it were the fresh air and friendly neighbors - my current situation is better in literally every other metric. No noise would be my biggest incentive to move to middle of nowhere.

alexjplant 4y ago
The middle of nowhere has plenty of barking dogs, gunshots, dirtbikes, quads, jubilant hollering, and fireworks :-)
- dragonsky 4y ago
  I’m not sure about your definition of nowhere.
  - mickdeek86 4y ago
    I spent the past year living in a lakehouse. The sound of those waves lapping serenely over the breakwater can be a real headache
- badpun 4y ago
  I'd try moving even further than that.
- rapjr9 4y ago
  Ditto the gunshots in rural Vermont. A neighbor a mile away likes to try his bump stock once in a while and there were occasional paintball wars on the hill behind my house. The middle of nowhere is fantastic though if you want to make noise, like playing an electric guitar or drum kit at 3am.