To feel incredibly sensitive to environments?

[LadyPoncenbyFroglett]

I've always been like this, and luckily grew up somewhere that suited me very well (semi rural on farmland but with access to all we needed).
I lived in Falmouth after leaving university in the early 2000's. Adored the place but felt very affected by the light and lie of the land, which is difficult to describe, but it made me feel physically and mentally on edge.
Later I moved north and lived on the Welsh borders, which suited me very much, a small town with just right ingredients for me. The landscape felt softer and calmer there, and the light felt soothing. Nothing much seemed to happen, yet there was always something to do.

I really don't thrive well in noisy places, and the world seems to be getting noisier and noisier by the year, so it was a huge mistake when I moved to a busy but failing town in the North West, saw a lot of deprivation and a lack of council care. It was flat and grey, a sense of hopelessness that a lot of people I knew there either didn't notice or didn't care about.

I prefer some sort of peace, in the landscape and immediate area. A sort of 'every day is like Sunday' vibe really, where nothing much happens, but the atmosphere is pleasant enough. You might suggest rural but a lot of these places are now teeming with tourists and if not, then an even more decrepit lack of infrastructure. We recently stayed in Windermere for 5 nights and our house was surrounded by slamming and impact noise constantly as too many little houses tried to fit their cars in. The whole place felt wired and frantic, just weirdly in contrast to the solid, grand silence of the surrounding fells..

A lot of people don't seem to feel this sensitivity, my DH says he can perceive it but it does not affect his mood or body. I wouldn't say I am overly sensitive, but I notice things and feel places quite deeply. I feel oppressed in some national parks, no matter how beautiful they are, yet come alive when close to water.

Anyone else like this?

I very much understand this. I’m the same, but I didn’t really realise it about myself until my late 30s. Could never put my finger on why I was happy in some places and not others. For me it’s a combination of a sense of history, a “buzz”, and trees. London is perfect. Edinburgh great. I like places like Winchester and Chichester but they are slightly too quiet. I hugely struggle in rural villages, finding them oppressive and almost creepy? And suburban towns — the ones with no personality, too many roundabouts and ring roads etc — are the worst of all.

I live in Northern Ireland now, in a beautiful seaside town, and I like it well enough but I only feel “at home” and like myself when I’m in an English or Scottish city with lots of parks.

I used to long to live in a city when young and a teen. I had plans to become a journalist in a big city for years. I used to love staying at my grandparent's house because they lived on a busy road, that seemed to lull me to sleep.

Now that I am middle aged I have come to despise urban areas due to some bad experiences in towns. I am now stuck not knowing where I feel just right, as so many places in the UK are really changing. Once decent places are getting rougher, and at the other side they are so very expensive.

A seaside town is lovely. I don't like those on the north west coast though (England).