It’s a false dichotomy. Neither city nor country is better and anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. Here’s why.
First, some background.
I have lived in New York City since February 2014. Except for approximately 6 months. We joined the exodus from the city to country at the height of the pandemic. That was after spending 6 months at the beginning of the pandemic sharing a small desk with my wife. Day in and day out. In 700 square feet.
We’re still married.
At the time, however, we needed space. We craved fresh air. We needed a break from Manhattan, which was not the happiest place especially after the summer riots that literally took place outside our front door.
We found a house on the Westchester and Putnam county line that was relatively remote, but close enough to Manhattan where we could still get into the city in about an hour (more with heavy traffic). It was an oasis.
But a few months into living there I realized how much I missed the city. It’s not because I didn’t like a more rural environment. I really did. I loved having space and the chance to own land with grass, trees, and even a pond! The only pond I had in Manhattan was communal: the City Hall Park fountain.
I missed the city because there are urban elements you simply cannot get in the country. But the inverse is obviously true as well. Which is why the answer here is a false dichotomy. It’s not about one or the other.
In life you should strive to incorporate both city and country elements into your daily living. Let’s discuss how.
Everyone needs nature time
I don’t care who you are or what you value most in life, everyone needs time in nature. Regularly. Maybe that’s once a day, once a week, or some other cadence, but it needs to happen.
If you don’t trust my advice that you need fresh air, peace, and serene views of hills, rivers, and forests, trust the prevailing science. The British know a thing or two about gardens, so I trust their listed benefits of being outdoors and around animals.
The American Psychological Association says we’re “nurtured by nature.” In addition to cognitive benefits, there’s a direct correlation between time spent in nature and levels of happiness.
Finally, one of the most prestigious science journals around - aptly named, Nature - concluded that “spending at least 120 minutes in nature is associated with good health and well-being.”
You may not have a house in the country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find regular nature time. Explore nearby parks. Go on a short hike. Do anything to get outside and away from the noise and chaos of ordinary life.
Everyone also needs cultural diversity
Rural areas tend to be more homogenous than cities. Apart from the data, my personal experience in upstate New York has informed this perspective. For example, we were recently at a community event at the local volunteer fire station. I have never seen so many white people in one place in my life. And we’re only 50 some miles from New York City, one of the greatest melting pots in the world.
The lack of cultural diversity in rural America creates environments that are generally less tolerant of differences, less empathetic, and less open-minded to change. The cultural richness of cities challenges preconceived notions and biases on a daily basis. Although it admittedly can reinforce negative stereotypes after witnessing the same types of people jumping the subway turnstiles over and over and over again.
But regardless, in the aggregate, cities have a cultural currency that is almost impossible to find in more remote areas. There simply are not enough people available from different walks of life to bring different perspectives. It’s not necessarily the fault of the rural communities.
If you find yourself regularly in an area that lacks cultural diversity, find ways to get it. Whether that’s by reading books by authors who do not look or think like you. Watching movies that feature actors or actresses who also don’t share your traits. Or better yet: traveling or moving to areas that will challenge your perspectives and beliefs. We all need to be challenged regularly.
Decide what you value
In the end, how you spend most of your time comes down to your values. Maybe you want the conveniences of a city. Perhaps you prefer the peace and close-knit community of a small town. All of that is fine and good.
What I want to challenge you to do, however, is to incorporate the primary benefits of city and country life into your everyday life. No matter where you live.
We can all work to spend more time in nature. At least 120 minutes per week is not asking a lot. We can all work to celebrate cultural diversity more too. Understand how and why someone might think differently from you. It might enrich your own perspective.
In America today we are increasingly divided along city and country lines. This doesn’t have to be the case. The overarching benefits of each compliment the whole. We shouldn’t live in one metropolis or one forest. We should instead work to combine the benefits of each into our daily lives to make them more complete.
The aggregate effect could be a happier and more harmonious society.
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