I live in a small town in europe, built a house and well it takes me about 25 minutes to the next bigger city (not huge one, lets say 50.000 people live there.

I sometimes find myself getting frustrated because the next gym is 7 minute drive by car to another smaller town. Grocery shopping I also do in another town nearby. Same people, same stuff, nothing new.

I am thinking about selling my house but I love the quiet area too. I love my freedom in my house and yard and I know everyone in town but nobody has my interests.

I can't just go to board game nights, meet many people in a bar, go shopping, go to a cafe and all that. I always have to drive those 25 minutes first.

But would I do all those things I wrote above if I'd live in the city? A few friends live in that city and say everything is so expensive and they do the same as I do (same gym, same grocery, same routine) just in the city.

But I feel like I am missing out.

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[–] FourPacketsOfPeanuts@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

SW London zone 3

Time to work on tube, 20mins

Can bike if wanted to. there are lots of on-street electric bike hire options, to the extent don't need to plan in advance there's always one there.

Biking is safe, on main routes there are protected lanes. On others the traffic goes too slow to be much of a problem.

3 close friends live within 10 mins bike ride, 20 mins walk. I can drive but bike is much more convenient unless it's tipping down

Gym 5 mins walk

Numerous great pubs within minutes walk

Parks, riverside walks

Many music venues, performances, artistic events local and within ten mins walk

Can get to West End in about half an hour, endless options, though they cost

There's a large supermarket on the next road over though I tend to get delivery

I've also lived in a small town (<5000) on the outskirts of a larger UK town (300,000). And while life is 'slower' and in some senses more attractive there is far less to do. It takes ages getting anywhere unless driving. Some main bus routes to the villages are surprisingly frequent (6 an hour). But if you're trying to go anywhere off the main route changing onto infrequent services takes forever. No local interest / hobby groups that interest me etc.

I much prefer the options on hand living in a nice part of London. It costs though. I wouldn't settle in London for less than £85k. (I would accept less and less pleasant living if I was building my career as this pays off, but I'm past that now)