City Visits and Country Living

I recently returned from a few days in New Orleans and New York City. I enjoy my city visits that make me grateful for living in the country. I take pride in my rural roots in Iowa. In addition, however, I seek opportunities to visit cities for short periods of time. I like what both cities and rural areas have to offer.

City life and country living pose distinct differences with advantages as well as challenges. My recent city visit was a contrast to the first 25 years of my life and the recent 10 years of retirement where rural environments have been my home.

Cities and country life are not necessarily a dichotomy. In my 35 “in between” years, I mostly lived in the middle of these two contrasts. Madison, WI and Durham, NC were not big cities and offered a blend of city amenities as well as proximity to the outdoors. One reason I resonate with parks and outdoor recreation as a profession is because of the way that cities, whether large or small, can offer outdoor nature-based activities.

Cities have advantages. For example, cities embody diverse cultures that highlight different cuisines, languages, and customs. Cities often provide numerous opportunities for entertainment such as theaters, museums, and restaurants.

Rural living has many of these same advantages in fewer ways. Estes Park has ethnic restaurants and entertainment in the form of high school music and theatre as well as community musical groups and arts. The natural beauty, peaceful landscapes, and proximity to nature that my small town offers, however, are important to me and why I chose my current country residence. Further, rural areas usually have cleaner air and healthier environments with outdoor recreation activities that lead to active living. My rural community fosters social connections and a sense of belonging.

Where one chooses to live is often a personal preference. The possibilities might also be based on career goals and social needs. My choices today are based on the quality of life that I seek in rural living.

Some people have more choice than others. I am grateful for the options regarding the places I visit and where I have chosen to live. I am thankful for this beautiful rural area and opportunities to make sojourns to cities for cultural visits. I am blessed with both worlds.