Big Cities, Small Towns

For those entering the post-grad era of their lives, it’s now time to imagine where you see yourself spending the next few years–and for myself, that means finding which large and exciting city will become home. However, as much as big cities are appealing in their abundance of opportunities within jobs, individuals to befriend, and things to do, there is so much more to see within their charming inner cities. Inner cities provide a space for community-oriented living while staying surrounded by a lively environment to thrive in, and I’ll be your tour guide through this underrated lifestyle. 

Offering a compelling alternative to big city living, the inner city life consists of its own advantages which I want to enlighten you on–but first, what aspects of these places coin the title of an “inner city”? The definition varies across different individuals’ thought processes and surrounding circumstances, and although it is stereotypically connotated with aspects like impoverished and urban, it can also simply signify an area outside of a major city encapsulating a smaller community. Throughout my research thus far in searching for a new home, these spaces carry intriguing characteristics that sparked my interest, even with my heart set on living somewhere like Chicago or Boston.

Many studies, including one by Oxford University, reveal healthier lifestyles, plentiful social interactions and less negative feelings of unsafety in their environment within inner city life. Because of these factors, many individuals thriving in these spaces are happier and livelier than those living in major cities, although busy lifestyles in compact spaces may be just the right fit for many. Residing right outside of a large city allows access to involve yourself within a more tight-knit community with easy avenues to all the great, sometimes even more social, aspects of the big cities - granting opportunities of both variations of lifestyles. 

Although when it comes down to it, personal preference will always be your main deciding factor in settling on what your address will become, and it’s vital to note that you should always prioritize yourself when coming to conclusions in permanent situations like these. My tip is to be selfish - make a list of what aspects you want to have in your post-grad lifestyle and which you do not, and stick with your gut. Given that you should see yourself blooming in this next place, take some time and do your research. If your mind is made on your next move, do some digging within some alternative areas and it might just call for a change of mindset.

References:

Sarkar, Chinmoy, Chris Webster, and John Gallacher. “Association between Adiposity Outcomes and

Residential Density: A Full-Data, Cross-Sectional Analysis of 419 562 UK Biobank Adult

Participants.” The Lancet Planetary Health. Elsevier, October 1, 2017. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(17)30119-5/fulltext