Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Parenting › Choose your dream location: city or country or ?
New Posts  All Forums:
 

Choose your dream location: city or country or ? - Page 2

Poll Results: Where would you prefer to live and why?

 
  • 24% (24)
    City in close proximity to shops, etc. (walking distance)
  • 9% (9)
    Urban, but not necessarily within walking distance of anything in particular
  • 5% (5)
    The 'burbs!
  • 48% (48)
    Out of the way: in the country or somewhere away from the hubub
  • 12% (12)
    Somewhere else!
98 Total Votes  
post #21 of 41
2/16/03 at 1:13am
Dear MDC:

Thank you for this thread.

I would like to be out of the way, near the mountains, quiet, w/ a field or animals nearby.

Of course, I would need a phone and post office for supplies. Of course, I would need my computer and the internet so I can be on the MDC.
Sponsored Links
post #22 of 41
2/16/03 at 2:52am
I chose city. Honestly probably "grass is greener" but...

We lived in a small town home walking distance to a very quaint town with shops, dining, clubs, etc. Tree lined, the works. When our son was born we didnt go "down town" as often, but still did.

We just moved to stereo-typical suburbia. It is nice. We are loving our new digs. But we are renting. And when we buy have agreed that we will look for a house [town home wont do anymore with kids and dogs etc] within walking distance of a "quaint down town" etc. We find that although we love the HUGE yard and house [and view, oh my] we would sacrifice some space [we have our minimums though] and alot of yard [but not all of it to a condo-life etc] in turn for walking to lunch/dinner on the weekends and church/grocery etc rather than DRIVING everywhere even for a gallon of emergency last minute milk etc.

That said, if we win the Lottery we have also agreed we are buying a beachside ranch in Kauai, Hawaii AND a condo in NY, NY. Best of BOTH world in our minds.
post #23 of 41
2/17/03 at 4:10am
Hmm.... a 5-acre estate in the city within an hour's walking distance of downtown! Then I could have chickens, goats, ducks, a big organic garden, AND the city!

(What a fantasy, LOL!)
post #24 of 41
2/18/03 at 11:41am
Small city. We are only 2 hours from Toronto, so we can enjoy the city treats when we really want to for a weekend but we don't have to deal with the pollution, the higher cost of living, the congestion, etc. We do miss the diversity and the food. We love where we are - everything we need is right here, it is beautiful, affordable, we can walk most places but it is only a short drive to visit our rural friends and we can afford to live in a wonderful house with an amazing backyard. We have so much to be grateful for.
post #25 of 41
2/25/03 at 1:04pm
We live in the country(actually in a small village), but the city is only 6 miles away. That is one advantage of Switzerland...there isn't all that sprawl. And the public transporation is great.
There are lots of disadvantages too. Like the cost of living. We pay an arm and a leg every month just so we can have a tiny little yard for my vegetable garden. Most people live in rented apartments here, like 70%. Also, the Swiss people(in general) are very reserved and conformist. Sometimes they drive me nuts.
I'd love to own my own house. We'd probably have to move back to the States, though, and I've gotten too accustomed to the easy, slow pace here. And all the grocery stores carry organic foods. Last time I was back in the states I couldn't believe how expensive Earth Fare, Whole Foods, and Alfalfa's are. Anyway, I digress.
post #26 of 41
2/26/03 at 12:00am
Thread Starter 
Quelle chance de vivre en Suisse! (Not sure if you speak/read French?). That' somewhere I'd love to live. My husband is French-- from the "est" in Nancy/Metz. (No French bashing, please! ) Lived there for 4 years, then moved back here.

I don't notice as much organic fare in France. Where exactly is Bretigny sur Morrens?
post #27 of 41
2/26/03 at 1:11am
I live in Madison, WI and love it. Not too big, not too small. We live within walking distance to a grocery store and several parks! It's great!
post #28 of 41
2/26/03 at 10:21am
We are just north of Lausanne, which is on Lake Geneva. I speak French pretty much fluently now (after 4 years).
I used to go over the border to do my shopping in France once a week because things are much cheaper, but all the big grocery stores don't carry organic, or if they do there is not much selection and it is expensive.

Was it hard to go back to the States? I often think about what it would be like, if it would be a huge shock for me. We were married here, both of my children were born here....I think I've grown accustomed to this place.
post #29 of 41
2/28/03 at 2:18am
Thread Starter 
Chocomoto,

We have been back in the States now for 10 years. Wow. Long time. It was hard coming back-- I still remember. It was really hard because we were newly married and dh didn't speak more than 2 words of americain at the time. He got a less-than-minimum-wage job in a bike shop. But, now he's a design engineer with Thomson (French company!) and we have two little Franco-American babes.

We miss the food-- the cheese and bread. I miss the green cities with parks and pedestrian areas in the cities, etc. Markets in Paris. I'm a French major, so I also miss speaking French. And for the most part (parenting EXCLUDED) I love the French mentality.

We've already decided we'll retire there.

My MIL is currently living outside of Geneva. Can't remember the name. I'll have to ask dh. I *love* Lausanne!!

Are your children bilingual? I have a tough time with that here, being immersed in English.
post #30 of 41
3/2/03 at 9:57pm
I voted country.

We now live in a town of 3,500 and we can walk to where ever we need to. But to do real shopping we go once a month or more to a much larger town (70 miles away).
We are considering moving 15 miles away to the country to raise our kids. I love having kids being able to run free with their dogs and play ouside all day.

The bad thing about country is that my dh works 12 hours shifts four days one week 3 the next so he will spend alot of time on the road and living out in the country he wont be able to come home for lunch or dinner. So our family time will go way down.

The plus side for country living for us is my kids will have 70 acres to roam, a creek and river to play in. The dog will be able to roam with kids and the animals wont have to be licensed. I wont have to worry as much about all the wierdos that walk past for house while my dd is out playing in our yard. I also wont have to worry about my kids and the street (we have a corner lot).

Oh yeah the other plus it will be rent free. We just need to sell our house in town. We will eventually need buy to a manufactured home because the trailer we will be living in for awhile is too small .
post #31 of 41
3/3/03 at 1:44am
We live in the country (small town of 30,000)...but it is 12 miles out of the city which is 900,000. Anything we want we can get in the city. Here in our town though, we live on the outskirts in the hills. Deer eat in our front yard in the morning and evening. Racoons are frequent visitors as our baby owls and quail. It is very quiet here and I wake up to the sounds of distant sheep.

Still with the city a mere 12 miles away...I can go eat Ethiopian and Indian go the the Children's Discovery Museum or the mall which carries everything from Aveda, Nordstrom, Gymboree to Lladro, Williams Sonoma and Sharper Image. International food stores and Health food stores (Whole Foods especially) abound.

I love living in the country and sometimes DH mentions living in the city or the burbs....UGH! I do not want to even consider that. I can not wait for my little one to explore the woods around our home and the meadows. I can not wait to teach him the name of plants and to go hiking with him.

Country, Country, Country.
post #32 of 41
3/4/03 at 11:35am
I didn't vote because I can't decide. I think about this question all the time--I think I'm extremely vulnerable to the 'grass is greener' mentality. I grew up in Manhattan and went to college there for two years. also went to college for two years in a small town in Maine. Now I live in Philadelphia. I think I'm really a city person--I love the sense of community in my neighborhood, the diversity, the stores and parks (much better in NY). I REALLY love not driving places. When I work in the burbs or visit friends who live there, it makes me crazy to have to drive everywhere. I also like the fewer chain stores/mega stores in the city. But I don't like the noise and the dirt in the city. I have fantasies about the country --nature, animals etc. I think I'm kidding myself though... Good thread
post #33 of 41
3/4/03 at 12:25pm
Where in Maine did you live? I lived in Gorham for 5 years and my dad is from Yarmouth. Most of my relatives live in Portland, Yarmouth or Freeport.
post #34 of 41
3/4/03 at 12:57pm
I lived in Waterville--went to Colby. I think it was just a littl ebit too much of a culture shock for me--moving from NYC to Waterville. I really thought that I would love maine, but I didn't. Since then, my DH and I have gone back to visit other parts--Portland and blue hill, both of which I liked better. Still not sure if I could live there though...
post #35 of 41
3/6/03 at 1:01pm
Where I currently live is perfect.Tiny rural community.


Yesterday my husband and I were up in Portland shopping for a much needed new fridge, and I was ready to go insane within about an hour of being in the city.The traffic and the people everywhere,all the lights and noise and everything made me want to hide somewhere.

I do not care that every time I go to town it means I must drive..it is worth the sacrifice just to have the sense of calm within myself I have here.

I am glad my son has two acres to play on, and run on, and get dirty on.I am glad I can have animals( rabbits,chickens,pygmy goats,dogs,cats,and my FIL belgian draft horse) and a garden, and an orchard, and a barn. I am glad I live in an old farmhouse with only one bathroom ..and that I live surrounded by my husbands family.

I am SO HAPPY here!!!!!!!


I want everyone to know that I am not judging those who live in Portland, and I know there is some neat stuff up there..but I have always loved living in the country..and I have lived in citys and suburbs and in the boonies...and out of all the styles of places i have lived..the one I am in suits me the best.
post #36 of 41
3/6/03 at 4:49pm
This question is always on my mind, too. I've lived in a small town, big city (Austin), and now in the suburbs, which I hate.

I'd love to move, but don't know where to begin. I think that the whole small-town Mayberry mentality appeals to me. I want to be in a place where you can borrow a cup of sugar from your neighbor, let the kids run around the yard, have neighborhood parties. We've lived here 6-1/2 years and barely know anyone, despite me trying. There are about 6 Dunkin Donuts within 5 miles frm our house, and development going on everywhere--strip malls and fast food places. Can't stand it.

I wish there were people who could find you places to live like there are headhunters for jobs. You give them your requirements and they find your town for you!!
post #37 of 41
3/6/03 at 5:03pm
There is a development closeby that has houses with small plots of land and townhouses and apartments. There are parks and ballfields for the kids and senior apartments.

There is office buildings (and light industrial) and shopping.

Lots of sidewalks.

....And hundreds of acres of open space.

Negative is it's a bit out of our pricerange.

But I'd love to live there (with they had a train into the city run through) Because we could walk and bike everywhere. The kids would have parks, pools, and ballfields.

I would still have enough land to garden.

WE might move there if our income goes up again and/or if I get a job when my baby goes off to school.

Debra Baker
post #38 of 41
3/6/03 at 7:47pm
That is always the main question....

Do you move somewhere that is much better to live, but you will have to give up being a SHAM or do you live somewhere not as good but you can stay home with the children.
post #39 of 41
3/6/03 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by djschrader
I wish there were people who could find you places to live like there are headhunters for jobs. You give them your requirements and they find your town for you!!
What a COOL idea... surely someone already does this??! I've often wondered how I'd find that ideal location when I don't know anything about any other place than where I live! Hmmm.
post #40 of 41
3/7/03 at 9:12pm

Cool thing!!

I found a website that will find your ideal spot to live. You go through a bunch of questions, and they give you towns that match your description. At the end, before they give the info, you are supposed to type you name, address, and email. I just used a phony one and it passed me through to my list!

#1 was Newport RI, #2 Amherst, MA.

It was pretty fun!

findyourspot.com
New Posts  All Forums:
 
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Parenting
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Parenting › Choose your dream location: city or country or ?