Is it still worth it to live in the city? This is the question many are asking, and have asked themselves. Pre-pandemic, it made perfect sense to live in cities, where there were more opportunities for work and play.
But the whole scenario changed when the coronavirus pandemic forced us to lock ourselves indoors, restricting our lives within the four walls of cramped apartments. City living suddenly lost its luster. People have had enough. The pandemic largely drove an urban exodus, with people fleeing big cities to live in the countryside.
The pandemic was definitely a game-changer, but there’s also the rise of remote working. With this freedom came the desire to move to less densely-populated rural areas, where there’s more room to move and breath, where owning a house was more affordable, where work and life can be integrated more smoothly, and where more health benefits are accessible.
Sounds promising? Should you make the big bold move too? Hear it first from some people who left the urban centers in search of a better life.
Realizing what matters most
The Washington Post published a compelling article, entitled “The Pandemic is Making People Reconsider City Living, Trading Traffic for Chickens” in June 2020.
In the story, they interviewed New Yorkers about why they left. The reasons vary – job loss, claustrophobia caused by stay-at-home restrictions, financial advantages such as the lower housing cost in a rural area. The pandemic also gave people time to press pause, reflect on their lives, and realize that matters most, just like Jinky Demarest de Rivera, interview by Washington Post,
Non-profit finance director Jinky Demarest de Rivera, his wife, and dog has lived in Manhattan for years. Holding jobs that enabled them to work remotely, they didn’t think twice about leaving New York. Carrying their prized possessions, their dog, and their laptops, they moved to the East Coast to spend more time with their aging parents.
Washington Post writes, it’s not just the people who are changing, it’s also the cities around them.
A great place to raise kids
In the urban center of Metro Manila, Philippines, the lockdown was imposed March of 2020. Adults were permitted to go out, only for essential activities, such as buying groceries or going to the hospital. The kids and the aged were asked to strictly stay home.
Haydee Bellen-Serrano, a TV writer in one of the top broadcast networks, and a mom of two, felt bad for her kids. “When the pandemic started, we had a five-year-old and a two-year-old who suddenly lost the right to play outside. We tried to compensate by buying a lot of toys, but they grew tired of them eventually.” she said.
Since Haydee and her husband had been planning to buy land out-of-town as an investment, the pandemic became a catalyst for them to actually push through with it.
Bellen-Serrano shared how she and her husband bought a lot in Alfonso, Cavite and built an A-frame tiny house, in this feature story for Metro.Style.
Born and raised in the city herself, Bellen-Serrano is happy with her family’s decision to eventually move in the suburb, once they fix the house, and find a good school for their kids. Not only because her kids get to run around, and commune with nature. It also taught her the values of minimalism, of how having less is more.
“We’ve realized that while the city life does have its merits, I truly believe that living in the province and in a tiny home also has many plus points. When you’re in the city and in a bigger house, you have more worries. But when you choose to live in a tiny home, you’re only concerned about the things you need, and the things you want become secondary,” she said.
As a city girl, she felt the profound difference. Compared to the city where there is more noise pollution, life is now much quieter, and more relaxing — “It’s definitely so nice to go to bed at night and hear nature sounds, the cool breeze is such a blessing, and you feel like everything doesn’t always have to go at such a fast pace.”
Should you live in the countryside?
Should you join the urban exodus? Can you shed the city girl or boy in you, and live a quieter, slower-paced kind of life.
Here are five reasons why living in the countryside can be good for your soul.
Less stress
Studies have shown green and open spaces reduce and boost mental and physical health. According to Medical News Today, green spaces are linked to better air quality, reduced traffic noise, cooler temperatures, and greater diversity.
Less pollution
Urban centers are becoming increasingly congested and polluted. Escaping the city means enjoying cleaner air in places where trees and grass are more abundant.
Healthier food
If you’re an urbanite yourself, you’d know easy it is subsist on a fast-food and take out diet. Living in a rural area will give you access to healthier and organic produce, especially if there’s a farm or a farmer’s market nearby. Having a bigger backyard or a garden means you can grow your own food too. By getting produce straight from the source, and cooking your own food, you’ll enjoy a healthier and more sustainable diet.
More space for exercise
You don’t have to pay for an expensive gym membership here. Neither would building a home gym be necessary. The open and wide space is yours to explore and roam around. Rural living provides more opportunities to find trails, fields, and other places to get out and stay active.
Stronger community
Ruralists, or those who advocate rural life, also cite the close-knit community as one of its huge appeals. The sense of community and social support is key to overcoming loneliness, which is associated with sickness and increased mortality rate. That said, it will largely depend on the culture of the town, the kind of people who live in it, and your ability to adjust. But in general, people in the county are believed to be kinder and more welcoming than those in the city.
The bottom line
Is the country living right for you? Before you start packing your bags, check if the town you’re eyeing has a strong enough Internet access. You’ll need that to stay on top of your remote job.
Then, weigh the pros and cons carefully, and compute your expenses living in the city versus the rural life. Take time to dig deep and reflect on this life-changing decision. Are you in this for the long haul?
Remember, it’s easy to romanticize the countryside as an idyllic place. But living in the countryside will not automatically improve your mental health. You need to heal yourself from the inside-out, and most of the time, the change comes from within you.
In the end, the most important consideration is your health. Live where you can be at your happiest and healthiest. Life is too short, don’t waste a moment.
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