Which lifestyle is better for my health: breathing plenty of fresh air in a dull, rural village, or never being short of mental stimulation by opting for life in a suburban metropolis with its polluted air?
鈥� I cannot say I have found rural life dull. I moved to a small village when I retired and am busier than ever, in a really good way.
In the UK, and people rate their in rural areas. However, within the crude statistics lurks the fact that there are pockets of deprivation in the countryside and farmers have an elevated rate of suicide.
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What it boils down to is this: in the UK, it costs more to live in the country and if you don鈥檛 have an adequate income it can be a challenging and lonely place. Housing, food and fuel are often more costly and public transport is both expensive and infrequent.
鈥淲e moved from London to a hamlet. Minus an urban matrix, we grew stronger, mentally and physically鈥�
Hardest hit are those who don鈥檛 have a car or the internet. The real divide isn鈥檛 between town and country, but between rich and poor, and the effects of being poor are greater in a rural environment.
Chris Warman, Hinderwell, North Yorkshire, UK
鈥� 鈥淒ull鈥� village? Never! After living in London for 30 years, my late wife and I moved to a remote Welsh hamlet. What a lot there was to learn: practical tasks (such as helping with the harvest and growing vegetables), the impact of seasons, local history, essential diplomacy, creation of work for ourselves, voluntary involvements. Minus an urban matrix, we grew stronger, mentally, physically and emotionally.
And if you find yourself lacking intellectual challenge, well there鈥檚 all the internet has to offer, not to mention this splendid magazine.
Howard Owens Exeter, Devon, UK
All the responses so far have come from country dwellers. Would any urbanites like to have a say? 鈥� Ed
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