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by EliRivers 2561 days ago
Depends on what you want, I suppose. High density humanity simply makes practical and economically viable gatherings, grouping and other activities that just don't work in low-density populations. Classes, meetups, specialist stores, hobbies, clubs, shows, lectures, institutions and just plain bubbling, embryonic interactions; all of it an order of magnitude more intense in a big city. Travel even fifty miles away from a big city and suddenly so much opportunity vanishes, or necessitates a two hour round trip into the city to take advantage of. For the people who want these things, the city is the only option. I don't work in a city because that's where my job is; I work in (the outskirts of) a city because that's where everything else I want is.

I work with people who live in the inner city and commute outwards daily for their job, because their job is just a way to pay for what they actually want, and what they actually want is to be in that city.
3 comments
skgoa 2560 days ago
Yeah, living in the suburbs of or reasonably close to a large metropolis is where it's at. As soon as you want/need a good or service that goes even slightly outside of the local mainstream, it will almost always be available only in a big city. The bigger the more likely that it will be available.
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jimmaswell 2561 days ago
Almost all that stuff exists just fine outside major cities in my experience. I went over some of the great stuff around where I'm from in NY here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20218742
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jotm 2561 days ago
15 miles, 2 hours? Hmmm, maybe invest in New roads.

But city living is sad, yeah you can have all the social fun, but none of the quiet, peace, living and hobby space.

I like living 10 miles from the city, lots of space, quiet and green, can drive 20 minutes to the shity anytime.

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EliRivers 2561 days ago
15 miles, 2 hours? Hmmm, maybe invest in New roads.

Maybe invest in new glasses. I didn't say 15.

A city that has a boundary defined enough that you can reasonably say you live ten miles from it, and that you can drive into in 20 minutes? You're thinking of a town.

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