I actually have a reverse of your experience. I grew up in the country and every time I’ve found myself living in a city I feel my nervous system getting overwhelmed slowly but steadily. This probably has to do with personality type and being used to quite nights with crickets instead of cars but I am lucky to live within driving distance to the fun of a city.
Thanks for sharing your experience Laura! I totally relate on my nervous system going into overdrive. It’s not something I was initially aware of, but now it’s super noticeable! I’m sure being within driving distance of a city provides a great balance🤍
This (as always) resonated with me so much! Things change so much when you have children. We lived in Berlin, a city I love and has a lot of young families but sometimes not the cleanest city (and veeery cold, of course) we came back to Spain to my family home in the countryside and now we are deciding our next move into the city, but it’s proving to be challenging. We both are city people but find the slower, cleaner pace to be so much better for the little one. I think the answer is to do what previous generations did back when it was affordable: rent an apartment in the city and own a house in the countryside… isn’t that the dream??
Thanks for reading and sharing your experience too! I totally agree about having a main place in the city, then a secondary place somewhere calmer! I hope you have a smooth transition to wherever you decide to move next 🤍
Currently living in Berlin, dreaming of a life by the beach in Portugal. Not jut dreaming actually but planning it. The reason we are choosing Portugal is that it will give us access to the best of both worlds - city and nature. We are planning on moving close to Porto. Not a metropolis like Paris or Berlin but still a city with a lot of life, culture and an incredible upcoming food scene. At this stage in my life that feels like the right move; I am not ready to give up on the big city life just quite yet.
I love that! I feel like a smaller city next to nature is a great balance! Porto is a very cool place too! I haven’t visited in years but would like to go back:) Looking forward to following your move to Portugal!
This really resonated with me. We've moved from a city of 20 millions inhabitants to a city of 200 thousands. I had a burnout from keeping up with the novelty, and all the must-have experiences and places that were constantly popping up. I am now learning to find happiness in routines and continuity instead of novelty. I definitely have more time to be present and slow.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Alisa! I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying a more slower pace of life away from the constant hustle. I imagine smaller cities would invite more opportunities for routines, as well as more dedicated time to things like hobbies, deeper social connections, etc. 🤍
I totally get what you’re saying! I live in a metropolis and I love it... however, from time to time, I genuinely feel the need to disconnect and be amazed by how vibrant the green of the leaves can be in the countryside.
Luckily, I often get the chance to escape the crowds and spend some time in nature, appreciating the little details it hides — like the joyful chirping of a sparrow.
Thank you for reading and sharing Cam! That’s great that you get to escape often and find some balance🤍 I agree that the sounds of a sparrow chirping can be so joyful!! I recently sat by the window in the library and heard one, and it just felt so peaceful!
If life is only worth living in a city, then I've never truly lived 🤣 As a small town girl, I can tell you that we townies love when city people decide NOT to move here. We make fun of them as they run back to their city as if a daily coffee run isn't possible anywhere else. Harsh? Maybe, but if you're a townie then you know there's more to life than cafes and shopping.
Haha I can totally see that perspective! While I do love my daily cafe runs, especially in Paris, for me it’s more about the cultural and connection opportunities here than the more superficial aspects. But I’m sure there’s so much beauty in being in a smaller town🤍 Maybe an experience I’ll be lucky to have one day as well!
I definitely relate. I feel like I have to live somewhere action-packed with the novelty you mention--yet somehow we're always happier when we're somewhere closer to nature, quiet, calm. We debate constantly what to do and definitely haven't found a solution.
I just wrapped up reading your most recent post and relate to so much of it! I’m (selfishly🤣) glad to hear that we’re in the same boat on this topic. The debates haven’t yet begun for us because we’ve only recently (re)located back, but I have a feeling that they are on the horizon. I love following along on your Parisian adventures and need to know if you find a suitable solution to this living dilemma!
Short term, I think it's just getting out of town at regular intervals, even if only a day trip. Long term, I have no idea. The sun the last week has confused me into loving Paris unconditionally. I need to brainstorm the solution during the winter when I can think clearly.
I actually have a reverse of your experience. I grew up in the country and every time I’ve found myself living in a city I feel my nervous system getting overwhelmed slowly but steadily. This probably has to do with personality type and being used to quite nights with crickets instead of cars but I am lucky to live within driving distance to the fun of a city.
Thanks for sharing your experience Laura! I totally relate on my nervous system going into overdrive. It’s not something I was initially aware of, but now it’s super noticeable! I’m sure being within driving distance of a city provides a great balance🤍
This (as always) resonated with me so much! Things change so much when you have children. We lived in Berlin, a city I love and has a lot of young families but sometimes not the cleanest city (and veeery cold, of course) we came back to Spain to my family home in the countryside and now we are deciding our next move into the city, but it’s proving to be challenging. We both are city people but find the slower, cleaner pace to be so much better for the little one. I think the answer is to do what previous generations did back when it was affordable: rent an apartment in the city and own a house in the countryside… isn’t that the dream??
Thanks for reading and sharing your experience too! I totally agree about having a main place in the city, then a secondary place somewhere calmer! I hope you have a smooth transition to wherever you decide to move next 🤍
Currently living in Berlin, dreaming of a life by the beach in Portugal. Not jut dreaming actually but planning it. The reason we are choosing Portugal is that it will give us access to the best of both worlds - city and nature. We are planning on moving close to Porto. Not a metropolis like Paris or Berlin but still a city with a lot of life, culture and an incredible upcoming food scene. At this stage in my life that feels like the right move; I am not ready to give up on the big city life just quite yet.
I love that! I feel like a smaller city next to nature is a great balance! Porto is a very cool place too! I haven’t visited in years but would like to go back:) Looking forward to following your move to Portugal!
This really resonated with me. We've moved from a city of 20 millions inhabitants to a city of 200 thousands. I had a burnout from keeping up with the novelty, and all the must-have experiences and places that were constantly popping up. I am now learning to find happiness in routines and continuity instead of novelty. I definitely have more time to be present and slow.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Alisa! I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying a more slower pace of life away from the constant hustle. I imagine smaller cities would invite more opportunities for routines, as well as more dedicated time to things like hobbies, deeper social connections, etc. 🤍
Sounds like we need to do home exchange!! 😁
Haha! Sounds like a fantastic idea
I totally get what you’re saying! I live in a metropolis and I love it... however, from time to time, I genuinely feel the need to disconnect and be amazed by how vibrant the green of the leaves can be in the countryside.
Luckily, I often get the chance to escape the crowds and spend some time in nature, appreciating the little details it hides — like the joyful chirping of a sparrow.
Thank you for reading and sharing Cam! That’s great that you get to escape often and find some balance🤍 I agree that the sounds of a sparrow chirping can be so joyful!! I recently sat by the window in the library and heard one, and it just felt so peaceful!
If life is only worth living in a city, then I've never truly lived 🤣 As a small town girl, I can tell you that we townies love when city people decide NOT to move here. We make fun of them as they run back to their city as if a daily coffee run isn't possible anywhere else. Harsh? Maybe, but if you're a townie then you know there's more to life than cafes and shopping.
Haha I can totally see that perspective! While I do love my daily cafe runs, especially in Paris, for me it’s more about the cultural and connection opportunities here than the more superficial aspects. But I’m sure there’s so much beauty in being in a smaller town🤍 Maybe an experience I’ll be lucky to have one day as well!
Sounds to me like you'll soon be ditching it all for a slow life in the country... and then you'll realise you don't miss any of it 😊
I definitely relate. I feel like I have to live somewhere action-packed with the novelty you mention--yet somehow we're always happier when we're somewhere closer to nature, quiet, calm. We debate constantly what to do and definitely haven't found a solution.
I just wrapped up reading your most recent post and relate to so much of it! I’m (selfishly🤣) glad to hear that we’re in the same boat on this topic. The debates haven’t yet begun for us because we’ve only recently (re)located back, but I have a feeling that they are on the horizon. I love following along on your Parisian adventures and need to know if you find a suitable solution to this living dilemma!
Short term, I think it's just getting out of town at regular intervals, even if only a day trip. Long term, I have no idea. The sun the last week has confused me into loving Paris unconditionally. I need to brainstorm the solution during the winter when I can think clearly.