Country villages. Pleasant places to live. Everyone knows everyone else. A real sense of community. Happy places. Sounds good, doesn't it? How everyone can picture themselves living. Well unless you're over 40 I would like to submit my disagreement.
I can remember High School. I felt like there was nothing to do in my town. The only times I could go into the nearby city were with a member of my family who could drive. I did not like it too much. But as I continued to grow, I realized that these were not real limitations at all. I was trusted more by my parents to go out when I wanted to. Most of my friends lived nearby and were usually more than willing to hang out. The city thing was not a big deal either, really. Once I built up a very basic level of confidence I could get there easily on the bus. With friends nearby and a city in easy access things were good. I was often out doing something or even doing nothing but with people I had chosen to keep company.
Then university came. We all went to different areas of the country to further our education: both in academic terms and life in general. Even with these new experiences, when it came to the holidays we were all back and things seemed to slip effortlessly back into the old ways. It was just what was needed. I would say that those were the true definitions of holidays. We could unwind, catch up and generally share many laughs. I even made some new friends in the area.
It seemed like a good system to me. Sadly though, my mother and her partner were beginning to feel increasingly excluded from their respective branches of the family. This was down to the distance: we lived 2 and half hours from his family and at least 3 hours from hers. They wanted to do something about this, so a couple of new jobs later we uprooted and moved down south.
When my university tenure was over I left to go to a new house, in a new part of the country. A country village. That independence and adulthood I had cherished had disappeared. With the village being so very small there was literally nothing within its boundaries to do, and in the months I have been here I think I've seen a total of 4 buses drive through. Being the only member of the family who has yet to earn a full driving license I am stuck. The only times I can leave the house I need someone else with me (either to take me, or as a passenger in my car because I cannot yet drive alone).
Where I lived before was small, but there if we ran low on something simple like milk, or if I needed to post something it was easily done. Just a quick walk up the road. Now, to do anything or get anywhere a car is necessary.
I am not completely dismissing the appeal of a country village. For people who are older it would seem like a wonderful environment. Quiet, and relaxing. Unfortunately for me, having all of my friends 2 and half hours north, 5 and a half hours away in Wales, or an ocean away in the United States makes it difficult sometimes to see its positive qualities.
I can remember High School. I felt like there was nothing to do in my town. The only times I could go into the nearby city were with a member of my family who could drive. I did not like it too much. But as I continued to grow, I realized that these were not real limitations at all. I was trusted more by my parents to go out when I wanted to. Most of my friends lived nearby and were usually more than willing to hang out. The city thing was not a big deal either, really. Once I built up a very basic level of confidence I could get there easily on the bus. With friends nearby and a city in easy access things were good. I was often out doing something or even doing nothing but with people I had chosen to keep company.
Then university came. We all went to different areas of the country to further our education: both in academic terms and life in general. Even with these new experiences, when it came to the holidays we were all back and things seemed to slip effortlessly back into the old ways. It was just what was needed. I would say that those were the true definitions of holidays. We could unwind, catch up and generally share many laughs. I even made some new friends in the area.
It seemed like a good system to me. Sadly though, my mother and her partner were beginning to feel increasingly excluded from their respective branches of the family. This was down to the distance: we lived 2 and half hours from his family and at least 3 hours from hers. They wanted to do something about this, so a couple of new jobs later we uprooted and moved down south.
When my university tenure was over I left to go to a new house, in a new part of the country. A country village. That independence and adulthood I had cherished had disappeared. With the village being so very small there was literally nothing within its boundaries to do, and in the months I have been here I think I've seen a total of 4 buses drive through. Being the only member of the family who has yet to earn a full driving license I am stuck. The only times I can leave the house I need someone else with me (either to take me, or as a passenger in my car because I cannot yet drive alone).
Where I lived before was small, but there if we ran low on something simple like milk, or if I needed to post something it was easily done. Just a quick walk up the road. Now, to do anything or get anywhere a car is necessary.
I am not completely dismissing the appeal of a country village. For people who are older it would seem like a wonderful environment. Quiet, and relaxing. Unfortunately for me, having all of my friends 2 and half hours north, 5 and a half hours away in Wales, or an ocean away in the United States makes it difficult sometimes to see its positive qualities.
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