there are many health benefits to living outside of the city, or even in the suburbs: clean air and an abundance of foliage are enough to convince many city-dwellers that country living is for them.
but services such as municipal water and sewage disposal are often a rarity in very rural areas. in city areas, it is fairly easy to access transportation with city bus systems and taxis. the opposite is the case in rural areas: without your own transportation, it is difficult to get around.
with greater distances between houses, even getting groceries can be a difficulty. so if a person loses his / her driver's license or vehicle for some reason, it's a real hardship in a rural area. it has been said that village life encourages a greater sense of community and gives some perspective on what is important. when a family faces a hardship, often those in a rural community are quick to help wherever they can.
if there is a death in the family, members of the community are right there with condolences. if someone falls ill, the community pulls together to raise money for the family. the reactions to these kinds of situations are much different in urban areas. many city-dwellers don't know their neighbours beyond a "hello" as they pass each other in the hall. some don't even say that much. perhaps they feel they don't need their neighbours, way people in the rural areas have come to depend on theirs.
people in rural areas organise more events together than urbanites do. from church dinners to local fairs, to the community's summer barbecue, most people have their fingers in the pie, in one way or another. it is these types of events that help to bring a community together, because those who attend can claim ownership of the event.
in urban areas, special events are often competing against each other, since there are often many happening at the same time. many people who attend these urban events haven't got any particular sense of pride for them, as they are just spectators of the event, not coordinators.
while one could argue that city life is more exciting and at times more convenient, it's not necessarily better than country life.
