Comparative Essay: Country or City Living

Try to picture in your mind the perfect place to live. Did you visualize living in a fast paced or laid back place? How about a place where you know and have a relationship with your neighbors? How about having the basic conveniences and amenities close by? By thinking on these questions you have categorized your choices into two categories: country or city living. Which would you choose? Many believe that city living has more benefits than country living, however, there are some that believe that country living is a real life dream. In order to make a firm decision, a comparison between the two types of living should be conducted as living in either location has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of the similar factors to consider for living in the country or living in the city are the routine, the people’s characteristics, and the life conditions. On the other hand, some of the differences to consider in living in the country compared to living in the city are the cost of living, the relationship with neighbors the basic conveniences and luxury amenities. Living in the country and living in the city share some similarities such as a routine, the people’s characteristics, and life conditions. In living in either place, a routine is developed that usually revolves around the work life. For persons in the city, they normally wake up very early at the same time every morning for work and return home in the later afternoon at about the same time every day. For example, a banker may wake up at six thirty daily to go through their morning routine of a workout, getting dressed and eating breakfast in order to get to work on time. Likewise, a person living in the country may also have a daily routine. A farmer, for example, may have to wake up early every morning to tend to his farm and ends the day about the same time evening. Another similarity between country living and city living is of the people’s characteristics. Persons in both places develop certain characteristics. It is said that person in the country are more friendly than those from the city. They talk to their neighbors, they develop good quality friendships, and they share life experiences with each other. They basically cultivate real relationships with each other. City people are also said to be friendly, even if not as friendly as country people. They do also say “hello” or ask “how are you” even though they may not have the time to invest in nurturing the relationship. Both country and city people develop a friendly characteristic, only varying in the degree of friendliness. We all have certain hopes and expectations that we anticipate from life, whether it be less stress, financial independence, good health, and living longer. Some persons feel as though living in the country is like living a dream with seeing the animals in their natural environment, seeing the beautiful nature, and traipsing in a meadow full of beautiful flowers. They believe this peaceful, serene atmosphere will keep them young longer and allow them to live longer. Likewise, you can look longer as you age or live longer living in the city with the help of doctors. Although, it is attempted in different ways, living in the country or city both have expected life conditions. While there are some positive similarities between country living and city living, there are also some differences. These differences are in the cost of living, the relationship with the neighbors, the basic conveniences and amenities and space. The cost of living in the country is said to be much lower than the cost of living in the city. In the country, the cost of food is less as the people with farms grow their own food and raise their own livestock. They also usually also provide food for the food stores and restaurants. On the other hand, in the city most of the food is imported and as a result the prices are normally higher. The cost of housing is also less in the country when compared to housing cost in the city. In the country you can more house for your money with being able to attain acres of land with a substantial size home for a certain price, while you may get less by the way of land and home for the same price in the city. Even if you take into considerations in the career opportunities in the city, city living is usually more expensive and it is not always easy to afford everything one may need. The relationship with others is another difference between country living and city living. In the country, everyone usually knows everyone and it is a very close knit community. The people are more personable and nicer. They say “hello” and ask “how are you” and take an authentic interest in the lives of their fellow countrymen. In the country, people don’t judge you based on your job, social status or income. You are accepted for who you are and are treated life family. This makes you feel as though you are a part of a genuine community. On the other hand, when you live in the city you barely know the people outside of your immediate circle of co-workers and family. They are usually less personable and less nice that country people and only in passing may greet you, and they don’t take the time to make a real connection with others. In the city you may be judged based in your job, social status or income, people don’t get to know you for who you are, what you value and how you treat others. Another difference between country living and city living is that of the basic conveniences and luxury amenities. In the city, shopping and other services are in close proximity. For instance, fast food restaurants, hair salons, shopping malls, dry cleaners, and home improvement stores are normally very to where people live. Entertainment, such as movie theaters, museums, and restaurants are also very close to the living areas. In the city, doctors’ offices care usually close by in office complexes, so you don’t have to travel far in the event of a medical emergency. In the country however, shopping, services, entertainment places, restaurants, and doctors’ may not be very close to the living areas, with persons having to travel for miles to get to them. In a case where you just want to go to a shopping mall of a restaurant, this may not be an issue, however, if there is some kind of medical emergency this may present an issue because of the distance to arrive at the doctors. In trying to decide whether to live in the country or the city there are many factors that has to be considered. These factors include the general pace of the place, the way people treat others there, the daily routine, people’s characteristics, and the basic convenience and luxury amenities. Both places have their benefits and drawbacks, but in order to make a sound decision some characteristics of the places must be compared. Some people believe that country living is best, while others may lean more towards city living. Any decision made will be a personal choice and will ultimately depend on a person’s character and preferences.