I live in what I think is a pretty crap town. It has high unemployment rates, nowhere decent to eat, not much in the way of play centres/attractions. The atmosphere in the town centre is always really depressing, lots of people seem miserable and angry and there's always lots of druggies hanging round in big groups in the only seating area. All the shops in the town centre are closing down one by one, and the town appears in the bottom 5 of every 'worst place to live in the UK' type list I've come across. The locals have a reputation for being really thick, and though I've put it down mostly to coincidence and most people I come across here are very nice, I have really struggled to find any kind of stimulating conversation since moving here 5 years ago.
I feel bored and isolated here, I'm used to a City environment and having lots going on around me and meeting interesting new people on a weekly basis. My issue is that I live in a really nice, spacious council newbuild, my 5 year old loves his school and he has a couple of friends on the street that he enjoys playing with. There's also a huge woodland park at the back of our house that I'm sure he'd love playing in once he's older.
I could probably do a 'home swap' via the council, with someone who lives on the outskirts of my nearest major City, but I know that I'd be moving DS to a house and area that's nowhere near as nice as the street we currently live on, and it would mean taking him out of the school which he loves and away from his friends.
My AIBU is pretty much:
YABU - Sounds like you're just stuck in a rut, it doesn't make much difference where you live
YANBU - Yes, living in a small town can take it's toll, moving closer to the City would be much more stimulating and likely to improve both your lives.
In case it makes a difference, I have limited mobility so really struggle with getting around and can't just head off to the nearest City (80 minute journey) whenever I'd like to. I'm stuck within a few miles of home the majority of the time.