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This brings to mind a concern that's closer to home for me, which is the similar dynamic in the US between urban and rural populations. I grew up in a rural area, and different people will of course have had contrary experiences, but I recall people having more "free time" (which I understand to be time we choose how to use). That time wasn't always used in the most constructive of ways, perhaps, but the choice was there. People were busy, but how they were busy was largely (not always) a reflection of choice. I don't recall ever seeing someone manifest the adage "hurry up so you can wait" until I moved to urban settings (including Manhattan). It was a huge weirdness to me then, and is now as well. Is waiting a choice? Perhaps, but only to some degree as the necessities of life are in more demand and queued. I moved to cities for the most commonly expressed reason: opportunity. Or, plainly, money. And it worked. I moved away from cities to my current rural oasis to gain space and time (and greenery), having become tired of the constant need to be on time, and in the right place, competing with masses of other people at every turn -- that is, not having a choice about my time. This move also worked. Not sure I have a point other than it isn't always obvious when time is traded for money and vise versa, perhaps be intentional about it if the opportunity presents itself (and respect those that choose differently). |