Town Mouse or Country Mouse?

Town Mouse or Country Mouse?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in San Francisco or New York City or Boston? Or maybe you have lived in those places, but you wonder what it would be like to live on a rural farm in Iowa hours from the nearest town. Just like in the children's story "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse," people love where they live for different reasons. Personally, I prefer to live in the city because everything is close, I have more free time, and transportation is less expensive.

Living in the city means that everything I need is close by. My place of employment is four blocks away, so I walk when I can and take a cab when it is raining or I am running late. Since it is only a few blocks away also, I can take my dog for a walk to the park every morning and evening for exercise for both of us or drop him off at home and go to the gym down the street. I stop at the grocery store on my way home from work each evening to get the ingredients I need to make dinner. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are always better. The library is across town, but I go there every other weekend to return books I have read and to check out new ones. If it is nice weather, I ride my bicycle, but if it is raining, I take the bus or metro. It seems that everything I need is right at my fingertips, just like the town mouse found that he missed when he went to the country.

I have also found that living in an apartment in the city provides me with more free time than I would have if I lived in a house in the country. I have little or no maintenance to be done on my apartment and what work is necessary is my landlord's responsibility, not mine. The grass that surrounds my building is manicured by professionals and so is the beautiful grass at the park. I can enjoy them both without lifting a finger. This frees up time that I would be spending on lawn work and home improvements or maintenance. I never have to paint the exterior of my home or caulk my windows. Since I am so close to work and play in the city, I do not have to spend my valuable hours commuting to work. My free time can be spent enjoying the park, going to the library, visiting museums or reading at home. Just like the country mouse, I have found that living in the city is more like a vacation in many ways because of the free time.

Finally, the money I save by walking, biking, or using public transportation is a huge benefit for me. I do not have to pay car payments, car maintenance, gas bills or insurance. I never have to worry about the expenses involved with whether my car will start in the morning or if someone has vandalized or stolen it. I have many options in the city regarding transportation and they are all either free or inexpensive. It is free and greatly beneficial to me to walk or ride my bike, but should there be rain or bad weather,