Wouldn’t it be fun to get to know each other better?
This question has been on my mind as of late.
We’re all doing our own thing. (And doing it the best way we know how, I might add.) We have schedules to keep, to-do lists to work from, and deadlines to meet. We have bottles to wash, laundry to do, and kids to get ready for school. You and I have plates that are full-to-overflowing most days.
But, wouldn’t it be kind of nice to pause for a few moments to just get to know each other a bit better? To learn what’s important to one another? To find out what makes each one of us tick? (And, to have a little fun while doing it?)
Yes, God made us unique with different likes, personalities, preferences, and attitudes. I find it amazing no two of us are the same. This is something we can appreciate and celebrate! Maybe we’re more different than alike, or maybe we’re more alike than we realize. But, either way, we’re all unique. All special. And, that’s a good thing.
I invite you today to join me as we answer a “would you rather” question. Take a moment to think about your answer, and if you’re willing to join the conversation below, add your answer to the comments! The cool thing is, there’s no wrong answer! Yay! Let’s have a little fun today!
Ready?
Would you rather live in the city or live in the country?
If you know me, you can probably already guess my answer.
I’ve done both, but…
I’d rather live in the country. In fact, I already do. We love it out here in rural Iowa, surrounded by farm fields (this year it’s filled with soybean plants). The town I grew up in is north of us on the horizon, and many a summer evening its baseball field lights shine through our windows. (Ever see the movie, The Final Season? It was based on my hometown’s high school baseball team on that very baseball field.)
We don’t have close (in location) neighbors, but we’re thankful for the ones we have. They are good people. We don’t live too far from Bill’s parents and we’re within 20 minutes of my three brothers–one is around the corner, one lives a mile from us, and the other is 16 miles away. (Isn’t it interesting we all, for the most part, settled close to our hometown?) I’m grateful my brothers and I are close–in relationship and in location. Our pets consist of four lively farm cats (Momma, Spaz, Kitty & Baby) who grace our back deck most days.
Why do I love the country?
Goodness, I love it out here. We can view both sunrises and sunsets through our windows. The views are quite amazing. It’s quiet and peaceful, except for the hourly-or-so train in the distance or the occasional airplane up above. We’re removed from the hub-bub and clamor and find ourselves often relaxing outdoors. Our yard is rather large which gives us lots of room to do the things we like to do out here (play yard games, host bonfires, etc.)
Why don’t I love the country?
Well, my number one complaint is our road. The road that brings us home is covered in gravel, so much of the time our vehicles are graced with gravel dust. Our house gets dusty quickly, as well. And, each spring we pay to have our section of the road treated to cut down on the dust clouds that follow cars speeding by. #ruralroadprobs
The other complaint I have is we put lots of miles on our cars driving to get anywhere. The closest grocery store is 13 miles from our home and it’s about the same distance to a Target or a department store. Yes, we drive a lot. #rurallifeprobs
But, the pros of living out here in the country outweigh the cons.
Friend, how about you? What’s your preference? Living in the city or living in the country? Which would you rather do? What makes where you currently live special?
Thanks for sharing in some lighthearted fun today!
Blessings to you, no matter where you live!
For fun, I’m linking this post with my friend, Anita.
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Hi Julie,
I too have lived in both, I prefer the in between of seaside village setting, where I live now. We have the small village community, the sea & the confidence of a city an hour away.
You’re most welcome to drop by…
You may enjoy my posts “Home Sweet Home” & “Tea by the Sea”
Jennifer
Jennifer, welcome! Your setting sounds amazing! I can picture the beauty of it all now. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be over to your place soon. 🙂
Hi Julie! I love living in the country. It’s quiet and peaceful compared to town. I enjoy seeing and hearing the wildlife in our woods. The major drawback for me is no high speed internet until 2019, when our electric co-op will bring it to us through fiber optic cable. Patiently awaiting that day!
Hi Sarah! I’m with you. Your corner of the world sounds amazing. No high speed internet, though? What a treat that will be when it arrives. It’s a life-changer! I remember the day when our fiber optic cables were installed. Couldn’t believe the difference! May the day come soon. Until then, enjoy your peaceful surroundings!
I prefer the country. I love being outdoors with the sights and sounds of nature. Where I currently live is sort of in between. Subdivision with spacious yards. But we can hear cows, donkeys and roosters almost every day!
Hi Kim! I’m with you… I love being outdoors. How fun you can hear farm animals nearby. Sounds like a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing a piece of it all with us.
Hi Julie – If I say the suburbs…is that cheating and/or frustrating? (My husband does this all the time and it drives me silly!) But I always thought I was a “city girl” – I love the energy, all the restaurants and other endless things to do, and I even love all the people. Buuut – the older I get, the non-stop noise and that same endless energy that used to excite me now tends to make me edgy and nervous. These days I am not as youthfully naive about crime, tension and violence either. So, the suburbs suit me. Close enough to things I enjoy doing (and lots of great restaurants!) and within easy reach of the city but also with the smell of farms – and farm animals – just behind our subidvision and no shortage of country roads to exhale on just out the back of the neighborhood. A city girl at heart keeping her calm closer to the country:)
Hi Jennifer! No, it’s not cheating at all. 🙂 Sounds like you have the best of both worlds. A perfect place! I love your ending description… A city girl at heart keeping her calm closer to the country. Enjoy every moment there, friend!
Hi Julie I grew up on a farm, then when I graduated moved to Oelwein for my job, then to Maynard, then when we married, back to the farm until we decided to quit farming, moved to Fayette and had a home on a busy street with close neighbors on both sides, but lucky enough to have a small pasture so the girls could have their pony, then the next house in Fayette had an acre but still close neighbors, so after 4 years we bought an acreage and after 7 years there, we bought 200 acres and have been here 47 years, where we can hear the river rippling by, the coyotes howl along the ridge, the turkeys gobble in the woods and see the deer daily……I don’t think I have to tell you where we love it most!
Tricia, I can see why you love where you live! It’s beautiful and so peaceful! You certainly do have lots to appreciate. Except those pesky skunks earlier this year! Thanks for sharing your perspective. Love it!
Hey, friend! I guessed country for you! It’s my favorite, too. What a cool movie fact about your town. My town is the inspiration for the Pixar movie Cars (the Cozy Cone Hotel was inspired by the Wigwam Inn–concrete teepees on the main drag of town). We live about two miles out of town and can see the lights of the ball games, too. One day when I grow up, I want to live in the country where it’s not a dessert ;).
Anita! I love Cars! I had no idea your town was the inspiration for that amazing movie. Which town is it? How fun! Makes my heart smile today. Bless you, friend!
If you’d asked me that question 30+ years ago, I’d have said city but this city girl moved to the country…and I so mean country… for my first teaching job and have been here ever since. Our closest grocery store is a half hour away and the Target/mall is and hour and a half away. McDonalds is 35 minutes away! But….I live in the shadow of the highest point in West Virginia and the views out my windows are spectacular! I have goats and a donkey living next door to me and we have the occasional visits from deer, rabbits, eagles, and even a bear! It was the perfect place to raise our kids. When I go back to the city to visit, I enjoy the convenience of everything close by, but am always glad when I’m close enough home to catch the smell the cow manure in the air once again!
There’s just something special about both, isn’t there? We have much in common about the country. I like to visit the city as well, but there’s nothing like returning home… and to all the smells, too! Thanks for sharing!