Town Mice and Country Mice

[TheOtherAgentJohnson]

I'm a bumpkin born and bred. I've occasionally lived in small cities (near parks), but I need to be in the countryside. Cities drain the life force out of me.

I'm happy to visit them from time to time and enjoy a good museum and interesting architecture, but I find them exhausting. I don't understand it at all when people go on holiday to cities for more than about a day and a half—to me, once I've got a feel for a place and the buildings, they're all pretty much the same. Just a vast sea of people, filth, and traffic fumes. A walk around, couple of museums, a nice meal and that's me done. Anything more feels repetitive and knackering.

I can go back to countryside or beach places over and over again though, which I'm sure many people would find tedious. I'm also quite happy to stay at home and enjoy the nature around me most of the time.

I have a friend who is the exact opposite, which I find fascinating—the bustle of cities really energises him. I'm always secretly looking forward to my hotel room and a lovely bath. I only really like cities with rivers in the middle of them too—I find I can rejuvenate a bit by the water and feel a bit of space.

I’m a country mouse too. A Forrest mouse really 🌳

I’m a country mouse too. I do like London for a day out but that’s it.

City mouse here. I get itchy if I’m out of a city for too long - the countryside is nice for a brief visit, but after a few days I’m bored rigid.

It’s suburbs that really freak me out though. They’re creepy, soulless places.

City mouse. I’ve lived in central London, Paris & Dublin.
If I lived outside the city, it would have to be near the sea.

My husband was raised in the suburbs, but thankfully has adapted well to bumpkin life.

I find suburbs quite comforting, but I could never live in one.

There are two tawny owls having a very lively conversation outside my window at the moment.

I remember visiting friends who lived on Dartmoor when I was in central London and being shocked by how loud nature is. Screaming sirens I could sleep through easily, but not owls!

I would love a sea view. I can stare at the sea for hours.

The birds around here are numerous and very loud, but it's the distant traffic noise that sometimes winds me up.

”I don’t understand it at all when people go on holiday to cities, once I’ve got a feel for a place they’re all pretty much the same.
I can go back to countryside over and over again though.”

I love being in the countryside but I actually find that’s all pretty much the same. Fields, trees, occasional stream - all lovely, but the same everywhere.

With cities, each one has a different story, a different history, a different culture. I don’t go to the same place more than once, or occasionally twice if I want to. But I love to explore a new city.

I live in central London which to me gives the best of both. I absolutely love the bustle, noise, energy. But I have all of the local, national and international travel options on my doorstep so I can be out of the city very quickly.

Country mouse here too! I grew up in a big city but wouldn’t ever go back to living in one now. I can deal with a short sightseeing holiday but am always pretty glad to get back home.

City mouse. I feel safe in cities with people nearby and CCTV everywhere.

The countryside is beautiful on a sunny day but dreary in the bad weather. But mainly I’d be frightened to live in the country ‘with no one to hear you scream’

Country mouse here, I too find cities utterly exhausting after a day or two. Never bored in the countryside, there’s always subtle changes with the seasons.

@NightPuffins
With cities, each one has a different story, a different history, a different culture.

Yes, but I find that I can grasp that story quite quickly, see the highlights, take in the atmosphere, job done. I don't need to go and point at every civic or religious building in the place. All the traipsing about on concrete and fighting your way through crowds of people is too knackering to be enjoyable, and that aspect of it is the same wherever you go.

The countryside isn't about stories and mental stimulation, it's about tuning in. Although another friend of mine is a geologist, and he sees stories in every pebble.

I love archaeology, and will always visit any ancient history museums in a city, but I much prefer a romantic ruin on a hilltop.

@SunnyPrague
I’d be frightened to live in the country ‘with no one to hear you scream’

But in the city people shrug when they hear a scream, because everyone is screaming.

Country mouse all the way

🌲

I suspect I may be a rat, as I have to be by water. Preferably a country rat, but could cope with being a (temporary) city rat if I was near a river or preferably the sea 🐀

City mouse but sadly enforced living in country which will probably end my marriage to a man I love very much but who can’t abide the city and I loathe the country.

I’m bored to death - spend vast amounts of time sleeping because there is no energy here. It beautiful but exactly the same. Nothing to do or see without a long car journey and he’s got bloody dogs which just trap you at home. Feel like the life blood is being sucked out of me. I hate it but love him. 🤷‍♀️

“But in the city people shrug when they hear a scream, because everyone is screaming.”

not mu experience at all - everyone looked out for everyone. Someone was always organising something. Just lovely feeling of different folks but all connected because we lived together

City mouse. I feel energised by the energy of other people, and I love to be free - in a city you can go anywhere, explore anything, connect with ideas and knowledge and inspiration at every turn.

I love to walk in the countryside but I hate driving and how you need to spend hours in a car even for the most basic things.

I live in central London and I can walk from my flat to some of the best art, culture, research and food in the world! I still get a thrill when I glide past the tired tourists and think - wow, I get to actually stay here. We’re lucky that London is a green city too - I have never lived more than 15 minutes walk from a large park or common.

Is there such a thing as a suburban mouse?
I find cities overwhelming but the countryside is scary.
Sitting in traffic jams is infuriating but tiny, single track, winding roads are terrifying!

God I’m so jealous.Couldn’t agree more!

I was born and raised in a city then moved to a countryside/beach town just before my teens. Cities still call to me and I love the culture and history of each one. I guess because I can see the countryside or the beach whenever I want to, the bustle of a city is a break to me now.

DH and my friends have even noticed I have two walking speeds. I’m slower at home but go to a city and I go into what we now call “city mode” and I basically vanish into crowds dodging in and out of people and it’s hard to keep up with me apparently.

Country-loving town mouse!

I've always lived in cities, or suburbs of cities, and love the hustle and bustle, the culture, diversity and history, and the convenience of having every conceivable amenity on my doorstep, and great public transport. I love visiting other cities too.

And I also love the countryside. I'm a keen walker, camper and nature and animal lover. I adore lakes, mountains, forests, meadows, the sea...

But I couldn't live in the countryside. I'd get frustrated with everything and everyone being a drive away. I'd hate not being able to go to lots of concerts and shows. I'd actually be a bit scared in a house alone at night, or walking alone in the dark, when there's no one around (I'm never uneasy, at home or outdoors, in a town or city at night). And this last one is ridiculous but I'm severely arachnophobic and country houses get a lot more spiders than my suburban semi!

I love living in the city and spending holidays in the country. I would hate to bring the kids up in the countryside. Too much driving about. It would drive me insane.

@Stillundertheduvet
City mouse. I feel energised by the energy of other people, and I love to be free

I feel absolutely trapped in a city, especially one like London where it takes forever to get out.

It is fascinating how visceral these feelings are for people. I'm probably very unevolved being unable to tolerate cities. It's also been terrible for my career.