city vs. country for vegans
I'm just curious how many people prefer the city to the country and why.
Having lived now in a huge city, a small town, and the absolute middle of nowhere, I can say I've experienced definite pros and cons of all three.
I lived in the city for a few years right out of college, and I'm glad I did. As a vegan, I love the city for natural food stores, restaurant options, cultural opportunities, the chance to meet and to talk with like-minded folk, and activism opportunities.
I think I prefer the country for the long haul, though...it's so quiet and beautiful. I love that I can get up in the morning and go for a quiet run outside and not see another person. I love that I can have a garden and access to great locally grown produce (well, in the summer anyways...). I love that I can actually afford a house, a yard, and a dog on a single teacher's salary. I love the trees and the green and even the snow is growing on me...
i've lived in the city almost my entire life. i lived out in the semi-country for one summer. it was near Yosemite in california, in a town of about 1,500. i would like to retire in a one-horse town with a garden and nobody else for miles. i'll probably end up in such a place many years before retirement. i've just grown weary of city life.
As a non-driver, the city is best for me in terms of getting around. Seville isn't a large city in area, though there are 1.8 million or so of us crowded in here, but it does have a lot of stuff easily in reach. However most older apartments (the majority) are uninsulated--consequently, noise! We are thinking of moving to a village since this is the regional capital and comparatively expensive, but I insist it must be on a train line as I find busses confuse me and aggravate the agoraphobia thing. It's a lot harder to miss a train station than a cowpatch middle-of-nowhere bus stop--esp. as country bus stops here are often unmarked.
In terms of vegan living, I would def. remain in the capital where there are 2 (count em 2) places I can get cheap tofu, rice milk, etc.
I have lived in both, plus I grew up in the suburbs (yuk). I lived in NYC and Boston. And I have lived in the country in New York State (near Woodstock NY and in Pound Ridge NY) and back home now in Georgia (in the North Georgia Mtns.). They both have big pluses and minuses. My ideal situation would be to have homes in both the city and country. Being that I have as many dogs as I do, I really can never think of living in a city again. It would be impossible for me. I do enjoy the peace and quite of the country. After living for years in NYC, and getting so used to the constant back ground noise of the city, I guess I am now NOT used to it at all. Back home in GA I never hear anything at night except owls, coyotes, and my creek off in the distance. My first few nights here overseas (beginning in London) I was having trouble getting used to hearing cars and trucks outside of my window again. I used to sleep through any sound in NYC, I didn't even notice it. I also have to say city living is more vegan friendly at times. Shopping vegan style is easier, and finding vegan restaurants is easier. Though Woodstock NY and the surrounding areas did have great vegan food. Overall they both have their finer points. Personally nowdays, I think I just prefer living out in nature. It's not for everyone, but I know it makes my dogs happy! :)
I've also lived in both city and country...ranging from a big farm out in the middle of the sticks to right next door to Takeshita Dori in Harajuku (down town Tokyo). I love the convenience of living in the city... but would rather the country anyday! I don't like the smog, noise, fast pace...etc of the city...
I've also lived in the city, the country (as a child, however, not as an adult or vegan), and the suburbs. I'm definitely NOT a city girl, I'm closest to Atlanta which I diligently avoid, but I do enjoy visiting (notice I said "visiting") Boston. We live in the burbs north of Atlanta in an area that is unfortunately growing. I like not living in a city but being close if there is something I really, really want to do or get there (and that's not much, not often). Got to have me some trees, but the country is not required. The burbs works for me. Hmmm, seems like the rest of my life--in the middle. ;)
I def AM a city girl which is too bad since I'm currently living in the boonies! Actually I love the country too, but just to visit, not to live in. Vancouver really is my ideal city because I can live in the city, take city transport (I'm a non-driver as well although I have a license if there's an emergency), and be in the mountains in under an hour to go hiking and camping.
Being veggie (or vegan) in Vancouver is cheaper than where I am now in New Brunswick and there's more alternatives available, but it's not difficult to maintain here... as long as you don't go out to eat!!
I'm a country girl at heart who is currently living just outside the city limits of Tampa....in the burbs. It's sort of a compromise for me. The conveniences of the big city aren't too far away, but I still have some peace and quiet that I wouldn't get if I was in the city.
I'm not a vegan but can I still answer?
I live in Saint Petersburg, FL which is a mid-sized city. However the county has 900,000 people crammed in (the most densely populated county in FL) and the metro Tampa Bay area is over 2 million. I love all that it has to offer. I love my quiet middle classed neighborhood with my yard for the dogs. I have no desire whatsoever to ever live in the country. Give me the city life any day!
Tweety--back in the day my family and I always vacationed in St. Petersburg!! It was such a nice little place...
Right now I live in the suburbs. I don't like it....I perfer the city. It's easier to ditch the car in a city.