In the end, which is happier, the city or the countryside?

It is an eternal theme.

The city side.

The countryside side.

This debate will probably not end until humanity goes extinct.

Today, I intend to settle it.

……

That is a lie.

If it were that easy to end, television wouldn't have been featuring it for decades.

Advantages of the city

First, the city.

Convenience.

It all comes down to this.

Convenience stores.

3 minutes on foot.

Supermarkets.

5 minutes on foot.

Hospitals.

10 minutes on foot.

Trains.

One every 5 minutes.

Uber Eats.

It delivers even in the middle of the night.

If you miss the last train, there are taxis.

People, jobs, shops, and events—everything is there.

It is truly a town that is both the 'starting town' in an RPG and the place where the final boss resides.

But the city also has many enemies.

Packed trains.

Rent.

Crowds.

Noise.

And,

the 'aura that everyone seems busy'

This is the most exhausting part.

Even the walking speed is fast.

People are in a hurry even on escalators.

People are in a hurry even while waiting for the traffic light.

What are they in such a hurry for?

They probably don't even know themselves.

Advantages of the countryside

On the other hand, the countryside.

The air is fresh.

The stars are beautiful.

It is quiet.

The houses are spacious.

The rent is cheap.

It is the best.

When night falls,

frogs provide the background music.

Insects provide the chorus.

A natural orchestra begins.

It is free.

But you must not let your guard down.

A five-minute walk?

Such a concept does not exist.

A convenience store?

A twenty-minute drive.

A supermarket?

A thirty-minute drive.

A hospital?

"We are closed today."

Trains?

Once an hour.

And if you miss one,

your life plans go off the rails.

In the end, both sides just want what they don't have.

City people say,

I want to live a relaxed life in the countryside.

Country people say,

The city looks like fun.

The grass is always greener on the other side, as they say.

Ultimately,

it seems humans are creatures who crave what they do not possess.

The sin of social media

When you look at social media,

City people.

Stylish cafes.

Instagrammable night views.

High-rise apartments.

Country people.

Playing in the river.

Camping.

Old folk houses.

Home gardening.

Both seem happy.

But in reality,

City dwellers are swayed in crowded trains,

And country folk are chased by weeding.

Social media is just a collection of highlights.

The outtakes are never shown.

The most important thing is...

I realized this after writing this far.

Happiness,

Isn't about the city or the countryside.

It's the commute time.

Two hours each way.

This alone significantly drains life's happiness.

Conversely,

Ten minutes to the workplace.

This alone makes the world look a little kinder.

Even in the city, if it's close, it's heaven.

Even in the countryside, if it's far away, it's hell.

Commuting is the final boss of life.

Money is the same.

The city has high salaries.

But rent is also high.

The countryside has low salaries.

But the cost of living is also low.

In other words,

in RPG terms,

it's like "equipment with high attack power but low defense"

and

"equipment with low attack power but high durability."

Which one is stronger

depends on

your playstyle.

Conclusion

Ultimately,

the city isn't necessarily happier.

The countryside isn't necessarily happier.

The place that suits you is where happiness lies.

If you like stimulation, the city.

If you like quiet, the countryside.

If you like something in between, a regional city.

They are all correct.

Therefore,

"You win because you're in the city."

"You lose because you're in the countryside."

It's not about that at all.

The most miserable thing is,

to keep complaining about where you are now while refusing to change anything.

……

Having said that, though.

What if I won the lottery?

I wouldn't hesitate to,

build a single-story house in the countryside,

get a dog,

start a vegetable garden,

and only go to the city for fun a few times a month.

In the end, humans just want the best of both worlds.