sf wrote:
>
> On Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:49:02 -0500, "Pete C." >
> wrote:
>
> >There are definitely two distinctly different sub-species of humans,
> >city and country. Cities are ok to visit, but I could never in a million
> >years live in one. I don't know how the city humans can stand to live in
> >a tiny box with no year, privacy, elbow room, quiet, darkness, etc.
>
> Have you heard about the middle one which is called "suburb"?
> Hubby tried to get me to move there a few years ago. Why??? GAG!
> Chain after chain... restaurants, stores - no personality or
> individuality.

Most of the "suburb" these days is the worst of both generally. I'm
talking real country, as in I can see horses across the street out my
window country.

>
> Many of who live in Cities can't understand how country hicks do it

Same as those of us in the country can't understand how anyone can live
without a yard or any separation from your neighbors.

> (Wasilla Palin is absolutely up town compared to what I'm thinking
> about). BTDT growing up.... and HATED IT.

> The GD tree frogs used to
> wake me up at night,

I can't imagine how this would be worse than a city, since every city
I've visited has been far noisier, and the city noise is random and
obnoxious vs. consistent white noise background.

> and the GD moonlight kept me awake because it was
> too GD bright.

This one is really out in left field, since a city is the epitome of
light pollution. Indeed it seems that many city folks are afraid of the
dark and when they move to the country they quickly have to install
"security lights" and keep them on al night since the first actually
dark night freaks them out and they thing the squirrels are going to get
them in their sleep.

> Our screened windows were wide open during the summer
> time, but mosquitoes got into the room anyway. I spent many nights in
> bed with the sheets over my head fending off biting bugs.

Having lived in the country for nearly 39 years, I can't even figure
that one out, as I've never had problems with mosquitoes getting through
window screens.

> I couldn't
> sleep due to the humidity anyway, so I spent just as many other nights
> sleeping on the floor (tossing and turning) because everything was too
> sticky.

Humidity has nothing to do with city or country, it relates to the part
of the country you are in and how you manage your home. Try living in a
city like hot-lanta without A/C and you'll find you stick to stuff just
as much as in the country without A/C.

>
> Mother Nature is a real bitch!

So are cities.

>
> If I wanted to visit the suburbs or country, I could do it easily -
> but it's not a big draw for me. Don't even suggest hiking in the
> mountains. YUCK!

Have fun in the city then, but do me a favor, and convince you city
dwelling friends to stay there too, since a large percentage of the time
when they move out to the country they promptly destroy it by bringing
their city light pollution since they're afraid of the dark, cutting
down the trees since they don't want to maintain their yard, etc.

>
> BTW: I was brought up in real country, with a crossroad community a
> mile or so away. The only way you'd know you went through town (which
> was one whole block of business district) was by stopping at a stop
> sign in one direction or going over railroad tracks in the other
> direction - so it got your attention one way or the other.

I grew up in a fairly country area too, and in the last decade or so I
watched it slowly be destroyed by city dwellers moving out to the
country because it was so pretty, and then destroying it with the
actions noted above.

>
> Reminiscing: I ADORED my first day/night in a real city and have never
> looked back. I stayed awake for hours with my sister staring at city
> lights the first week here - and best of all... NO BUGS!

No bugs??? I don't think so boopie, every city I've seen has tons of
bugs, though most aren't the flying kind. Cockroaches everywhere, cat
sized rats, etc. ick!

> Life is good
> in the city... very, very good. I like the ambient sounds, real
> curtains/shades to block light, being close to museums, theaters,
> restaurants, parks of all types and historic attractions. I love
> public transportation too. I hope they improve that part even more.

I like natural ambient sounds, not honking horns, screaming people, etc.
Real curtains / shades work anywhere, and *gasp* in the country you
actually have dark at night. World class museums, theaters and
restaurants are all within about 45 minutes of me, as for parks, well, I
essentially own my own park, and my park doesn't have homeless
squatters, muggers, bums ****ing on the sidewalk, PYVs letting their
filthy dogs crap on everything, etc. As for public transit, no that
isn't in the immediate area, but it's of little relevance since most
everything you'd want is within a 10 mile radius, and *gasp* there isn't
any place that charges for parking. Oh, and if I really want to use
public transit in a city, I can drive about 30 min to catch a commuter
train into the city, and parking at the train station lot if free too.

>
> Yes, I'm a reformed country bumpkin... which is almost as bad as being
> a reformed smoker.

I sounds as though your only country experience was for whatever reason
a bad one, and not representative of the majority of country life.