To ask for your experiences - suburbs vs countryside

[Cuntricide]

We live in the suburbs with DD and are lucky enough to own a decent 3-bed house with enough garden to run and potter around in. We're about 6 miles out of town, close to a bus route and all amenities and generally very comfortable. All being well, we'll be mortgage-free in about 10 years.

We'd love to move further into the countryside - about another 6 miles further out we could get a slightly bigger place with more character and a big enough garden for a pony and lots of lovely riding and walks right on the doorstep. There'd be neighbours of course, but not crammed in like we are at the moment so hopefully less stress there. And probably another decade on the mortgage. But harder for DD to be independent when she gets a bit older and wants to go out and see friends. We're in our mid-30s so don't know whether it's too soon to consider what area would be better for us as we get older and maybe less mobile.

AIBU to ask for your experiences suburbs vs countryside and which one suits you better?

I grew up on a farm, so pretty rural. It was great as a little kid, hated it as a teen, and that was even with my parents being willing to give us lifts everywhere.

My sister and I both live city centre these days. I love that my kids can meet up with their friends and walk to each other’s houses easily. And 90% of the time we don’t need a car to get out and about.

speakout

We didn't get military jets but we did have RAF Chinooks all day and half the night.

I grew up in the countryside. I had a pony at home. I loved it as a child, hated it as a teenager. Didn't appreciate it until I was in my twenties and living in the town! I now live back in the countryside, with horses,caking and happy!

You can't keep a pony in a garden, you need at least one other companion. Ponies are expensive and terrorise novices. Be very sure that your daughter actually wants one. Our neighbour bought her daughter a pony because she fancied the idea of it (more than the daughter) and it all ended in tears, the pony being sold, and a lot of money lost.

I live in the suburbs now - have to for career, but I am a bumpkin at heart and grew up in a proper rural area.

As teens we didn’t feel bored or deprived, because we were all in the same boat and didn’t know any different (school had a massive catchment, geographically, with lots of farming kids). Walking, buses, hitch-hiking - I just had to use my initiative to get about and get home really! Or we’d crash at friends’ places in town if we’d been out.

Most of the time we just hung out at each other’s places, which is what most teens do anyway isn’t it? It’s not like they need to be a tube ride away from the opera or anything.

Can’t wait until I can go back one day.

"We had a train station about 2 miles walk from home - not a problem, you walk it. "

That's unusual in the countryside.

We live in a tiny village in the countryside with very rare public transport that stops after school. I agree with the PP who said it’s great when the kids are little but I hate it with a passion now that my kids are teens/pre teens. I spend so much time in the car, the kids have no independence which I think is so unhealthy. H and I are in the middle of separating and once dc1 is finished school next year we’ll be moving to a small town with facilities.

I live on the edge of a suburban area, next to farmland and countryside. I like the peace and quiet ( compared to city), the birds and wildlife. Im near enough to the roads and suburb to get access to shops, city where I work.
Downside is transport. Buses are good, but it requires 2, one to town, one to city. By car is a pain as there's no easy, direct route.
Ideally, I'd live more rurally, but am happy at the edge of the burbs.