If you grew up in the countryside, but now live in a town, how much do you miss it?

[hugoagogo]

It seems ridiculous to me that I am on the brink of tears every time I think about it.
What a massive sap.

I grew up in a small village and hated it. Nothing to do, rubbish public transport etc. Moved to a town for Uni, different town for first job then settled there. I don't miss the country at all and am glad my DCs have grown up with so many opportunities on the doorstep.

Where I grew up there were no police being needed, fields and woods everywhere.

Poachers. Farm vehicle thefts. Arson. And once, we were warned to stay inside because a couple of dangerous prisoners had escaped from the Verne on Portland.

I grew up in the countryside close to the sea. For years my heart ached for it. Now the practicalities of living in a town have won me over.

Having a child probably helped. If we moved back, DS would have to travel 15 miles to Sixth Form and the local authorities are trying to close the nearest A&E.

I miss it but I don’t miss the horrific public transport and everyone knowing everyone it can be comforting for some but intrusive for others

I went from small town, countryside all around, to a big run-down industrial city. I hated it every day for fifteen years. Moved to another small town and love having beautiful surroundings plus schools, shops, leisure centre, community spirit.

Grew up on the edges of a small village. There were wonderful things about it - I'm glad to know a little bit about country life - but moving into a town aged 16 was miraculous to me, I was SO much happier - less bored, watched less TV, did more, contributed more, OK read a bit less. The town itself was very boring but a metropolis to me in comparison. Moving to a city at 19 was like heaven. Since then, I've always lived in cities except for 2 years in a very isolated suburb which was a pain in the arse. I live now in a provincial city which has a lot of culture and a bit of a rural connection, together with protected green areas, and that to me is heaven. I will never willingly live in the country again.

I miss:
The peace (no drunken idiots shambling past at 3am)
The space (grew up in a detached house with a huge garden)
The lack of weed/skunk smells
Being able to go for a 6 mile walk in the countryside without having to drive somewhere to start with

I don't miss:
Being bloody miles from the nearest shop, and that shop being a piddly little overpriced co-op
Everyone expecting you to be on good terms with your neighbours even if they're awful
Knowing if you needed the emergency services they'd take at least 30 minutes to get to you even if it was a house fire, arterial bleed or crime in progress
One bus every hour weekdays only
No takeaways that deliver

I grew up in the countryside, but lucky enough to have been only half an hour on the bus into the centre of a large city. So I got the peace and quiet of the countryside, and all the open space for walks and getting into nature, however could go into town whenever I wanted.
I now live in the middle of Manchester, and miss the quiet and peace of where I am from, however it is too expensive for me to move back there now, for a while at least

I miss it enormously. I think I always will. People talking about insularity and small-mindedness have clearly never lived in [city name redacted] though!

I grew up in a rural northern village, then spent fifteen or so years living in cities. For a long time this was fun and I was perfectly happy. But as I got older I missed the countryside more and more until I was properly pining. Driving back into the city after trips away made me feel claustrophobic and depressed.

So now I live in a rural village again. Moving here was like coming home, even though it is the other end of the country from where I grew up. I feel like I can relax and breathe again. Happy days.

Hated it. Don't mind visiting now as an adult and having a couple of days of calm, but then I get twitchy and I need to escape. I hated that everyone knew my business. I like anonymity and 24 hour shops and just things to do that don't involve walking up hills to look at views. As a teenager it was so bloody boring!!

I wish I hadn't read this thread, it has made me want to move. I grew up in a town and always lived in cities before we moved here.

Things I like about the country:
-No immediate neighbours
-Big garden
-Big sky
-Dark and quiet at night

Things I hate:

• Have to drive everywhere
• No nearby shops or bars
• Everyone knows your business
• No parks

I grew up in London, moved out to small town to give the dcs more space. I still miss it but enjoy elements of small town country living

I've lived in capital cities... and I've lived places literally over an hour's drive from the supermarket.

Right now I'm rural but the supermarkets deliver - which seems a fair compromise.

But once the children are off I'll be heading off to nowhere again.

@mumonashoestring
Yes the neighbours thing!

My parents disliked several people in the village and I really disliked the children of a few families
But we still all had to play together, spend time together because there were no other options.
So everyone puts on this front but secretly seethes
I'm sure it's why my family is so appalling at talking about things - generations of having to stifle it for the sake of neighbourly relations

I've just thought of another thing I much prefer about city life - being able to go for a run with headphones in while zoning out

When I go for a run in the countryside, I come back so stressed from being on high alert for cars, tractors and horses the entire time!

The fresh air
The space
The views
The friendliness

I find city life, despite its many attractions, harder and more stressful.

I miss rural. I hate being able to hear other people's phones, vacuums, alarms.