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Original poster

Can’t decide if I’m a city girl, a country girl, or a coastal girl?

40 replies

zitqueen · 10/02/2024 20:32

I love the city. I love the country. I love thee coast.

Life is short but you can’t live in all three at the same time. How do you know which you’d be happiest in?

I could equally see myself living in an ultra modern flat in zone 1 of london as I could living the quiet life on a farm in devon or in cornwall in a captain’s house.

OP posts:

Dacadactyl · 10/02/2024 20:34

I've never lived anywhere other than a city but see myself as a country girl at heart!

I'm most at peace in the countryside, so in your shoes I'd decide where I felt most at peace and plump for there!

HeddaGarbled · 10/02/2024 20:37

Move to Newcastle.

oOmoonhaOo · 10/02/2024 20:38

Move to Bangor… although it’s a pretty short shit city

theduchessofspork · 10/02/2024 20:38

Try them all?

At the moment it feels like you are imagining a glossy image of yourself in these places, rather than reality (traffic in central london, bleak winters in Cornwall, driving rain winters in Devon).

If you did city for a year and country for a year you will get a good idea - or you will decide, as many do, that a small town with access to country and a city not too far is what you’d like.. or a small city with great county on the doorstep.

I love the country but live in a city because I like the stimulation day to day. Luckily for me my family live in the county and I get to visit.

Hobbes8 · 10/02/2024 20:40

Can’t you move to the edge of a coastal city? I live on the outskirts of Brighton - I can see the sea and the South Downs from my window (you have to jump up and down a bit to see the sea to be honest, but it’s a 10 min walk) and can drive to the centre in 20 minutes. It’s not city living…it’s a sleepy suburb and I used to live in a flat above a shop in a busy bit of London…but it’s easy for gigs, theatre, etc.

There most be loads of cities that offer the same.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 10/02/2024 20:41

I agree, but am limited by not being able to afford the zone 1 flat i envision (preferably bloomsbury), and having children who apparently also need somewhere to sleep and to be able to see their friends, so i have settled for dull suburbia which is none of those things. Sigh.

PersephonePomegranate · 10/02/2024 20:44

I'm the same!

I live in the suburbs where the access to London is good and I commute to London, but we're in a leafy area with countryside on our doorstep. An hour-ish away from the coast and get down to the South West as often as I can...which is not as often as I'd like!

mnahmnah · 10/02/2024 20:49

Newcastle, Liverpool, edinburgh - all amazing cities near the coast and beautiful countryside. You can have it all!

DiamondGazette · 10/02/2024 20:50

I grew up in a city, spent most of my adult life studying and then working in another city, lived in the countryside once we had children and commuted in, and now I'm approaching retirement, we have downsized and live in a little house by the sea.

Allthatglittersisntart · 10/02/2024 20:53

I’d say it’s fairly normal to love all three. I’d happily live in London if I was a multi-millionaire with a house along the Thames(the path near Chiswick) and a boat and access to Eurostar and airports to go any-where in the world.
Although, without being rich, I think there are places like Lisbon that meet all those criteria- small vibrant city, Sintra for forests, coast all around. Cascais even better.
Or in the UK maybe Cardiff(actually never been , but imagine that geographically it fits the bill) or Plymouth, Exeter?

roobypo · 10/02/2024 20:54

Try Portsmouth!
It's an island city, has a lovely beach (not sand but we have a lovely sandy beach in Hayling island literally a 15 minute drive or quicker by boat). Also have all the perks of living in a city as well as having the South Downs on our doorstep. Also not far from bigger cities such as Southampton and London.

BreakfastAtMimis · 10/02/2024 20:55

I'm assuming you're a woman not a girl, so probably d) none of the above. Unless you're actually 10 years old in which case fair enough question.

TeenLifeMum · 10/02/2024 20:57

I am the same. I live in south Somerset surrounded but countryside, 45 minutes to the Dorset coast, an hour to Exeter or Bath, just over an hour to Bristol and London and back in a day is doable. I get my fix of all three.

Cocacolacarrie · 10/02/2024 21:04

Agree with what others have said, there are plenty of cities that are both near the coast and countryside in the UK.

I technically live in a village, but am 5 miles from the nearest small and a bit shit city. I'm about 30 minutes from Liverpool. I have lots of countryside around me and am about a mile from the coast.

Andthereyougo · 10/02/2024 21:20

I think it’s an age thing too, different places for different stages of your life. I grew up in Manchester until I was 15, then was moved by dear parents and dumped on an elderly relative in the middle of Exmoor. It was a bit of a culture shock to say the least but I’ve lived mostly in rural places since, in different countries.
Now mid 60s I’ve had enough of rural. The mud, the animal poo, have to drive to everything, no decent shops, theatres or cinemas for miles.
But can’t see myself being able to live in a city.
It’ll have to be the seaside next. 🏖️

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 10/02/2024 21:24

PersephonePomegranate · 10/02/2024 20:44

I'm the same!

Where is this?

WestwardHo1 · 10/02/2024 21:27

Move to Swansea. It's a pretty shitty city near some amazing country

WestwardHo1 · 10/02/2024 21:27

Plymouth has a similar vibe

WestwardHo1 · 10/02/2024 21:28

BreakfastAtMimis · 10/02/2024 20:55

I'm assuming you're a woman not a girl, so probably d) none of the above. Unless you're actually 10 years old in which case fair enough question.

Come on now.

GoodlifeGlow · 10/02/2024 21:32

Hopefully your life will be long and you will be able to experience them all! I used to live in a tiny flat in London, now live in a 7 bed 8 acre house in the sticks. When we inevitably downsize I would love to be by the coast (but will still need room for my gardens and animals but that’s another issue!).

Beezknees · 10/02/2024 21:38

I've lived in all 3. City hands down for me. I like a buzzy vibe, cocktail bars, a decent public transport system and fast wifi! Although the peak district is very near to me for nice walks out anyway. Wouldn't ever live by the sea again, a lot of seaside towns are actually quite grim, lack of job options for young people means a lot of poverty and anti socialness, and there was a lot of casual racism thrown around from locals at the one I lived in. Odd place.

Beezknees · 10/02/2024 21:38

WestwardHo1 · 10/02/2024 21:27

Plymouth has a similar vibe

Plymouth is a dump!

Habbibu · 10/02/2024 21:39

I love that I have almost all three where I live. I live in a village, but the city is across the river from me and it's easy to cycle to - you could even walk there easily enough. I have the river at the bottom of the road from me with a little beach, and fields behind me and near the beach. The city we live near is quite small but it's big enough to feel like a city and have city amenities. This is definitely the dream scenario for us.

Ametora · 10/02/2024 21:40

How old are you? What we want as girls is often not what we want as adults.

When you leave school/uni why not get a job then try out all 3 before you settle down?

WhichHoose · 10/02/2024 21:40

Edinburgh! Cramond Village is the perfect mix. Quick bus to the city, countryside on your doorstep, sea view out of your window (and a bit of forest on the walk to the sea unless you're right on the coast)!

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