Urban Life vs. Quality Life

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This is a post comparing the two kinds of life I've had the privilege to live...your comments, both for and against, are most welcome... I've lived more than half of my life in the metro (in the Philippines), growing up and going to school within QC, expanding that place to include Makati and Manila only when I began working. Knowing nothing of the kind of life I live now, I thought that metro living was it...the life, the works! In my mid twenties, work brought me to a new place - Cebu. It was a mix of urban and rural living. It gave me an entirely new experience and changed my view on "the life"...it made me realize that enjoying life didn't exactly mean having to endure crowded places, waking up in the wee hours of the morning just to beat traffic and make it to work on time, having nightlife and malling as popular past times. Life in the visayas combined the convenience of the metro and the serenity of a laid back lifestyle. When I hit thirty, I had to move to a more rural place - General Santos, because hubby's work had him assigned here. Now, this was a culture shock for me! It was more rural than urban. The remaining semblance of a nightlife/gimmick life I was used to totally disappeared here (needless to say, nightlife is almost none existent here; and the existing malls only offer the most basic conveniences and brands - no Havaianas, MOA, Glorietta/The Fort eating places, if you get the drift). After 5 years of living here, I'm what you can consider a e convert. Right now, I can't imagine going back to Manila/Cebu to live. I've gotten used to a laid-back life without horrendous traffic, maddening crowds, money-sucking nightlife and shopping. I actually got used to living on the most basic of neccesities and survived! In fact, I wouldn't trade this quality life for another. Next month we'll be moving to a new place - Butuan City. And my guess is it's gonna be more rural if not the same as life here. The upside? Life there is going to be a beach! (literally, because hubby's area is the whole Caraga region and it includes the world famous Siargao Island...surfing anyone?)...our quality of life now would be an even more laid back one, surrounded by the most beautiful works of nature. Do you think you're up to this kind of life? Will you enjoy it as I have? Or is life in the metro your kind of thing? Share your thoughts...