Different lifestyles.

[Doobie]

I couldn't think of a name for this thread, but basically I wanted to make a thread about what kind of area do you guys live in or prefer? Right now I live in a country area and I hate it, I've lived in New York City or 15 minutes away from New York City my whole life, so this is a big change for me. Over here you can actually be nice to people without having to worry about everyone stepping all over you, but in New York you need to worry about getting what YOU need above everyone elses needs. To be honest, I prefer that lifestyle. In this area everyone is in bed by 10 p.m every night, which irritates me since i need to be quiet and not wake the neighbors up.

Basically, I consider my comfort zone the city. I like the non-stop lifestyle, there is always something to do over there, the everyday hustle of getting from point A to point B. I've grown up in that enviroment, and have no come to realize that I do want to spend the rest of my life living in a bigger city. Everything is way more expensive in NYC though, that's probably the biggest drawback.

[Lean]

From where I live everyone sings badly and loudly. There are people who whack each other outside, you can overhear a husband-and-wife scuffle (and you can look on the other side of the window to see them make out -- seriously, they were too loud and too visible for neighbors not to see). Though my neighbors are nice when you cross paths with them, their habits are not really neighborhood-friendly.

There was a time that they set up their karaoke machine, with their speakers facing directly to my room when I needed rest the most. For that I had hoped that I had a bottle of piss on my hand and have thrown it to them.

[JaoSming]

Well I've only lived in a "rural" area where everything shuts down after 8pm and I really can't complain about it. I don't like where I am now because the nearest store is a 20 minute drive away and the nearest "social" thing to do is 40 minutes away (mall, bowling, other social stuff), that kinda pushes it too far for me. But I got my basketball, I got some friends withing 5 minutes of me, and I have everything else I need to survive.

My hometown had a lot more to do but again, at 8pm everything closed so it was either being at someone elses house or my own hanging out....never really cared for "city" life where I could walk around at all hours of the night and get something to eat or go somewhere to hang out.

[Patr1ck]

Grew up in a suburb in Virginia. There was a park with a bball court 2 blocks away, a 7-11 just across the highway, and an arcade about a file down the highway. It was fine growing up, but I can't see my self living anywhere but Los Angeles(30 minute drive to downtown), close to it, or a similar style area where there is a lot of choices.

There is just so much to do. Snow on the mountains, all night city life, parks, national parks, zoo's, theme parks. Hollywood, the beach, girls, girls, girls. I went up to another city in northern California a couple years ago and was bored out of my mind. Guess I am spoiled by it.

[hova-]

Living in the South of Germany, in a town with 25 000 inhabitants ... like 15 minutes away from the core of Augsburg, a 250 000 people city. So I can't complain, I can enjoy the advantage of rural areas (tranquility, forests, nature etc.) but don't have any problems with shopping etc. (10 mins drive maximum).

Munich, the next big city with over 1.000.000 inhabitants is like an hour away by train or car. Germany's way different from the US. Smaller distances, one of the best railroad system in the world and almost no real big cities. (I think Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and most recently Cologne have surpassed 1.000.000, no more)

All in all I like how it is. I'm used to it and I don't need to live downtown.

[Doobie]

I guess my life where I currently live would be easier if I grew up here with friends. But I don't have any friends here so this place is extremely boring too me. I got a basketball court a block away, and I occasionally play with the 15 year olds there, but it isn't fun when they a) Don't take the game seriously or b) I dominate them.

On a side note, I'm moving back to my town in NJ this June. It's 15 minutes away from NYC, so I'll be right at home. It's where I spent most of my life.

[[Q]]

It was fine growing up, but I can't see my self living anywhere but Los Angeles(30 minute drive to downtown), close to it, or a similar style area where there is a lot of choices.

There is just so much to do. Snow on the mountains, all night city life, parks, national parks, zoo's, theme parks. Hollywood, the beach, girls, girls, girls. I went up to another city in northern California a couple years ago and was bored out of my mind. Guess I am spoiled by it.

word. grew up in thousand oaks (AKA white suburbia) 30 mins west of LA. all my friends live in ornage county so i don't see myself ever going back. evenutally i'd like to live in nice white suburbia in central OC.

oh and when i read the topic title i thought it was about Doobie's "alternative lifestyle" lol

[The X]

Munich, the next big city with over 1.000.000 inhabitants is like an hour away by train or car. Germany's way different from the US. Smaller distances, one of the best railroad system in the world and almost no real big cities. (I think Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and most recently Cologne have surpassed 1.000.000, no more)

I'd agree with that. That's how I got around Germany.

[Fresh8]

I thought we've had a similar conversation about this before.

Anyways, I prefer the city lifestyle to the country one. With that said, I've lived in a smallish (now expanding) Brisbane my whole life but do not think I could enjoy the hustle and bustle of a bigger city like Sydney. I like busy but not too busy if that makes sense.

[The X]

When I read topic title, I thought this thread might be all about swingers and other "different" lifestyles etc.

[el badman]

Grew up in rural France, I'd say it was a fine place to be a kid. Moved to a fairly large city (by French standards) in my teenage years, and eventually to the US, where I've lived in a few medium to large cities and then in Los Angeles. Couldn't take LA anymore, way too fucking expensive and stressful so I went back to Texas, and El Paso feels just like the right size to me (about 700,000 peeps and a much lower cost of living).

[Houndy]

Still live in Northern Texas, just hate the weather here sometimes.

For Example, I think it was last week, but it was freezing one day, and then 75 and sunny the next

[Lamrock]

Though I don't intend to live in Seattle for the rest of my life, I greatly prefer it to smaller towns. Rural places make me want to kill myself after being there for just a couple of hours, so I would hate to ever leave the city.

[Oznogrd]

I've always lived in smaller southern cities that need other cities to truly make a "metro area" aside from my 4 years in college. But the town was exactly the same, just with 42000 young people for 8 months rather than a pure church crowd.

And I like the south. It really is more laid back here. And people at least wait till you walk away to talk shit about you. The weather's awesome (aside from those days where you need a heavy coat, umbrella, sunglasses, and tanktop all in one day). Valentines Day it was about 65 degrees. What I cant stand is everything except for bars having terrible hours. Restaurants that were open till 3 or all night when i was on campus now close at the latest midnight and most around 9 or 10, especially on a Sunday. It didnt used to be this way but my city's finally grown big enough to draw in some good concerts and things so I dont really mind it that much anymore. And if I have to, i drive the hour and a half to charlotte and its a non issue.

so yeah..other than blue laws, i'm ok with the south.

[Kenny]

I live pretty much right in the city and I love it. I guess the trade off with living amongst it is that my house is a lot smaller than it was when I was living in the suburbs. The convenience of having everything within walking distance is worth it though.

Even though I wouldn't describe it as being "country", I used to live in a town with a population of about 13,000. it's nice to go back there every now and then as a getaway, but living there for 19 years, I got over it and wouldn't want to live there until I decided I wanted to settle down.

[Chino]

I used to live in a rural area in my home country. I really liked it there as it was not that polluted and not that noisy. Everyone in my neighbourhood was approachable and it was an awesome place. Although I really hate the nosy people in my area (gives you an idea where country am I from).

I moved to NZ four years ago and it was a different environment for me. You can only see few people around walking on the streets and you 'll experience four season in a day. It is a quiet life here in NZ. I didn't like that much back then but got used to it and when I went home last year, I really appreciated NZ.

Now, I just recently moved to Dunedin for Otago University and this place is quiet different to Auckland when it comes to weather (much more colder) and the buildings and houses around you(really old). I'm still adjusting since it's the first time I'm away from my family but I think I'll get used to it although I still prefer Auckland.

[Lean]

I used to live in a rural area in my home country. I really liked it there as it was not that polluted and not that noisy. Everyone in my neighbourhood was approachable and it was an awesome place. Although I really hate the nosy people in my area (gives you an idea where country am I from).

Yeah you never disclosed that over the years. But when you said "nosy" -- ah hell.

[Chino]

I used to live in a rural area in my home country. I really liked it there as it was not that polluted and not that noisy. Everyone in my neighbourhood was approachable and it was an awesome place. Although I really hate the nosy people in my area (gives you an idea where country am I from).

Yeah you never disclosed that over the years. But when you said "nosy" -- ah hell.

This is also one of the reasons why I really appreciate NZ since people here don't really care and judge you about what you wear or what car do you drive.

Also crime rate here in NZ is very low compared to other countries and you'll only hear few crime news here.