Question For Rural Folks, What Is Your Definition Of A Big City ? (chickens, cow)
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I'll give a serious answer to what I suspect was a flippant question:
To me, a "big city" needs to have more than just population density, it also needs to have a character all its own, culture, a sense of offering something distinct and vibrant. There are plenty of high-population urban areas that are just big old bland suburb-y messes. I am from a town of 400 and now live in a town of 800, but I really enjoy spending time exploring "big cities" when I am on vacations.
I wouldn't be at all interested in living in a bland city ever again. If I ever give up the benefits that rural life provides - privacy, independence, nature, quiet, peace, neighborliness, etc. - it'd better be for a worthwhile trade-off in other benefits.
I've lived in Albuquerque, San Antonio, Charleston SC, Asheville NC, Columbus OH... I've also spent weeks and months traveling to/staying in Dallas/Ft Worth, St Louis, Seattle, Washington DC, Salt Lake, Williamsburg and Norfolk VA, and Vegas.
All big cities. All chock full of amenities and endless entertainment and nightlife, Grocery stores open 24 hours, restaurants large and small, motels with suites and in-room jacuzzis, where they have in-room delicacies, cheese and fruit and chocolates, and even caviar and champagne, waiting when you arrive.
<yawn>
Big deal. I'd rather be in a small town where I can walk to what I need, where everyone knows me and asks me what I need, where they order things they think I might be interested in, where we can talk about someone's new baby or new grandchild, and where we can all go down to the bar afterwards, and have supper and play cards. Where I can go swimming in the river in the summer or ice-fishing in the winter. Where the motel has a fireplace in the lobby where you go to drink your morning coffee and read the paper, and where folks prefer homegrown grass-fed beef over any McDonald's burger - at about the same price.
I've lived in a no-stoplight-anywhere-in-the-county area for over 25 years. Previously I had lived/worked in several "smallish" cities and was in Washington DC for several weeks back in the early 80s, so I've had some experience with urban areas. Our county just recently got its first ever McDonalds and I truly felt sad that such an enterprise was finally encroaching on my little rural bubble. (There is only one high school in the entire county and there are no movie theaters, hospitals, hotels/motels, or large industries, either!) I guess population wise anything over 1000 qualifies as a city in my book!
Is it any place that has atleast 1 McDonalds qualifies as a big city to you ? lol.
Nope.
The town I work in has 1 McDonalds, a Burger King, 5 pizza places (figure that one out!), three oriental resturaunts, 2 diners, one movie theater, one Safeway and a Wal-mart. It still feels like a small town to me.
Nope.
The town I work in has 1 McDonalds, a Burger King, 5 pizza places (figure that one out!), three oriental resturaunts, 2 diners, one movie theater, one Safeway and a Wal-mart. It still feels like a small town to me.
I always found rural areas fun to vacation in, but I would never want to live in a rural for the rest of my life. I would get bored very quickly. Especially if I lived in a house in the woods all by myself just like a hermit where I can go days without seeing another Human Being.
I always found rural areas fun to vacation in, but I would never want to live in a rural for the rest of my life. I would get bored very quickly. Especially if I lived in a house in the woods all by myself just like a hermit where I can go days without seeing another Human Being.
Kinda depends on what you call "bored". If you have cows and chickens and a garden and an orchard to care for, or a nice shop where you can lathe wood or weld metal, and create your own life with your own hands, you don't have time to be 'bored'!
After awhile, to some folks, the promise of the neon fades into obscurity, the rush and bustle turns into just obnoxious and never-ending purposeless noise, and you find out that pleasing the people around you is not as important as pleasing the person within you...
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. (There is only one high school in the entire county and there are no movie theaters, hospitals, hotels/motels, or large industries, either!) I guess population wise anything over 1000 qualifies as a city in my book!
