Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-09-28 08:52pm

I've noticed something - if you've got minimum wage jobs in hicksville,
USA you can probably afford a decent trailer to live in, along with
minimal neccessities, due to the general depressed housing market found
in such an area thanks to supply and demand. In TN, you can easily get
50 acres for only 50k, while in NYC, land like that would require a few million
to afford.

A minimum wage job OTOH, in NYC probably means you end up living
in a ratty apartment with water stains on the wall, and rats in the walls
in the middle of Murderville, with gunfire on the streets nightly.

Anyone got comments on this...

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-09-28 08:55pm

MKSheppard wrote:I've noticed something - if you've got minimum wage jobs in hicksville,
USA you can probably afford a decent trailer to live in, along with
minimal neccessities, due to the general depressed housing market found
in such an area thanks to supply and demand. In TN, you can easily get
50 acres for only 50k, while in NYC, land like that would require a few million
to afford.

A minimum wage job OTOH, in NYC probably means you end up living
in a ratty apartment with water stains on the wall, and rats in the walls
in the middle of Murderville, with gunfire on the streets nightly.

Anyone got comments on this...

You live in Hicksville, TN, you have very little access to civilization, you probably don't get the broadband so easily available in the cities, your shopping choices are fewer, your neighbors are probably miles away...

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-09-28 08:56pm

Land value. Something I can't be bothered to understand deeply into right now.

A good idea could be to get rich in New York, and then retire in a mansion in the country.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-09-28 08:57pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote: your shopping choices are fewer

Not with the internet and FedEx

Nathan F · Post by **Nathan F** » 2003-09-28 09:08pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote:
MKSheppard wrote:I've noticed something - if you've got minimum wage jobs in hicksville,
USA you can probably afford a decent trailer to live in, along with
minimal neccessities, due to the general depressed housing market found
in such an area thanks to supply and demand. In TN, you can easily get
50 acres for only 50k, while in NYC, land like that would require a few million
to afford.

A minimum wage job OTOH, in NYC probably means you end up living
in a ratty apartment with water stains on the wall, and rats in the walls
in the middle of Murderville, with gunfire on the streets nightly.

Anyone got comments on this...
You live in Hicksville, TN, you have very little access to civilization, you probably don't get the broadband so easily available in the cities, your shopping choices are fewer, your neighbors are probably miles away...

You would be surprised. I live in 'Hicksville' (smallest person per square mile county in Tennessee), and we have access to broadband and are an hour drive from shopping in Nashville. Our neighbors aren't just right next to us, but some people (like myself) like it that way. Our access to civilization (internet, cable/satellite TV, telephones) are just as good as someone's in NYC.

Post by **weemadando** » 2003-09-28 09:34pm

I live in a city of ~200,000 including surrounding area.

It has an abundance of shopping choices. VERY LOW COST OF LIVING. And the cost of housing/rental is waaaaaay down.

I like it. It works for me.

Trytostaydead · Post by **Trytostaydead** » 2003-09-28 09:37pm

That's why you get a nice paying job in the city, and buy a country retreat in the middle of nowhere but with nice amenities!

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-09-28 09:38pm

Well, I live in what passes for a town here in the central belt of scotland....population is around the 115,000 from the last census, not counting towns and villages that run together with it (one of them is over 16k). All in all it isnt too bad, too many assholes for my tastes, I actually preffered my time when I was staying in Glasgow....a proper city.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-28 09:41pm

City living is more expensive because the land is worth more. The land is worth more because people would rather live close to everything. There are lots of things you can do in the city that can't be simulated with FedEx, and lots of reasons to leave small towns. I met my wife because she couldn't stand small-town living any more and struck out on her own to find a better life.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-09-28 09:44pm

You know, this conflict is exactly why Suburbia evolved. It's lovely to be a Suburbia child(And it's hard to imagine Charleston as 'urban' and not 'suburban'.. No offense to the city, but it's got the laid back atmosphere of a suburban town.).

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2003-09-28 09:44pm

Darth Wong wrote:City living is more expensive because the land is worth more. The land is worth more because people would rather live close to everything. There are lots of things you can do in the city that can't be simulated with FedEx, and lots of reasons to leave small towns. I met my wife because she couldn't stand small-town living any more and struck out on her own to find a better life.

It's those sort of things that made me prefer Glasgow to Ayr. Glasgow for example has three excellent universities as well as a whole plethora of colleges....museums, speciality stores, theatres, cinemas, nightclubs.....

All things you cant get fed ex'd out....(well apart from diploma mill colleges

)

Captain Murphy · Post by **Captain Murphy** » 2003-09-28 09:49pm

Nathan F wrote:
Xenophobe3691 wrote:
MKSheppard wrote:I've noticed something - if you've got minimum wage jobs in hicksville,
USA you can probably afford a decent trailer to live in, along with
minimal neccessities, due to the general depressed housing market found
in such an area thanks to supply and demand. In TN, you can easily get
50 acres for only 50k, while in NYC, land like that would require a few million
to afford.

A minimum wage job OTOH, in NYC probably means you end up living
in a ratty apartment with water stains on the wall, and rats in the walls
in the middle of Murderville, with gunfire on the streets nightly.

Anyone got comments on this...
You live in Hicksville, TN, you have very little access to civilization, you probably don't get the broadband so easily available in the cities, your shopping choices are fewer, your neighbors are probably miles away...
You would be surprised. I live in 'Hicksville' (smallest person per square mile county in Tennessee), and we have access to broadband and are an hour drive from shopping in Nashville. Our neighbors aren't just right next to us, but some people (like myself) like it that way. Our access to civilization (internet, cable/satellite TV, telephones) are just as good as someone's in NYC.

I'm in the middle of nowhere right now, though near civilization at the same time. I'd have no problem walking out of my house stark naked... which I did several times this weekend, and taking a piss off the pourch onto the lawn. Why do this? Because it's great. I just hope some US satalite is technologicly advanced enough, and bored enough to catch a glimps of me at one point.

More to the point, people can make quite a bit of money in the middle of knowwhere, as long as they have the same buisiness spirit. Cattle as well as Companies that... you know do things for ranches and farms. Things are more expencive with more land. The electricity bill alone here is $700 a month. For 50k and a lucky strike (acres are around 2k atm, though you might be able to find someone who needs to sell fast) you can find 50 acres around here, in central cali halfway between SF and LA. I bet in TN you can get several hundred acres. Living is expencive whereever you are. I've lived in cities, suburbs and completely rural areas. Start somewhere, get an idea, and build up on the idea. invest in land, cattle, whatever to start out with, just remember the key concept is to save your money and make it grow, not spending it all on ATVs and guns, though... I recomend you have at least one of each... they're fun.

As far as internet is concerned I'm on a 56k modem working at 26k due to shitty phone lines. I'm 30 miles from the nearest real town/city. I can't get DSL or Cable modem (obviously not cable) but... satelite internet is an idea, only problem is the lag time between the satelite makes it virtually impossible to game... it's more expencive too.... Damnit.

Each area has its benifits, and I wouldn't say one place is safer then another. It's all about personal preference. More privacy and freedom with rural or more socialization and stuff to do in cities.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-09-28 09:53pm

Minmum wage here is $6.75 but that wont buy you anything. $20 dollars and hour will not buy you a house, but you can rent a studio with it.

Land prices are insane here. There are places like Dublin and Pleasanton which where still largely rural twenty years ago that now have average home prices in the 500,000's.

You cant find a 50 acre plot in my county unless it is zoned agricultural. A non agricultural plot that big would run in the 10's to hundreds of millions.

People in rural California are in a similar situation to yours Shep. They can live on large lots but the best they can hope for are like 7 bucks and hour. But some actually have decent lives except for access to big city amenities.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-09-28 10:10pm

TrailerParkJawa wrote:
People in rural California are in a similar situation to yours Shep. They can live on large lots but the best they can hope for are like 7 bucks and hour. But some actually have decent lives except for access to big city amenities.

Sheppard lives within artillery range of the nations capital as I recall, might be a bit further. I don't think he intends his post to be from his own direct experience.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-09-28 10:19pm

My mother grew up in Hicksville, on Long Island. It's an actual town, no shitting you. Just do a search for it.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2003-09-28 10:22pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
TrailerParkJawa wrote:
People in rural California are in a similar situation to yours Shep. They can live on large lots but the best they can hope for are like 7 bucks and hour. But some actually have decent lives except for access to big city amenities.
Sheppard lives within artillery range of the nations capital as I recall, might be a bit further. I don't think he intends his post to be from his own direct experience.

Oh, I thought he lived on a large lot, or something close to it. Ive never been your guy's part of the world. It amazes me there is anything rural at all for such an old part of the country, but then again Im used to the rates of growth in California.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-09-28 11:05pm

I live in Pittsburgh, which is a moderately above-averaged sized city. For it's various faults, I find it the best place to live in the world. It has all the advantages of big cities, but doesn't have the same problems with crime that many of them do. Plus, land values are low, property is cheap, and the only thing we have to really worry about is Mayor Murphy building another freakin' stadium. Life is good.

I couldn't stand living in a rural area or town. It just doesn't have the same energy or things to do, and I'd go out of my gourd with boredom.

Worlds Spanner · Post by **Worlds Spanner** » 2003-09-29 12:46am

Nathan F wrote:You would be surprised. I live in 'Hicksville' (smallest person per square mile county in Tennessee), and we have access to broadband and are an hour drive from shopping in Nashville. Our neighbors aren't just right next to us, but some people (like myself) like it that way. Our access to civilization (internet, cable/satellite TV, telephones) are just as good as someone's in NYC.

So shopping is a most of the day activity? Ug. I guess you learn to pool your trips, huh?

kojikun wrote:My mother grew up in Hicksville, on Long Island. It's an actual town, no shitting you. Just do a search for it.

Of course. Hicks is a very old Long Island name, which looms large in history in a very small way in a few regards. An interesting (short) article: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nynassa2/Hicksville.htm

And an explanation of "famous son Elias" http://www.rootsweb.com/~nynassa2/Bios/EliasHicks.htm

______________________________

As for me, I've lived all my life in the suburbs of Philadlphia, and I just love it. The old, high density suburbs are a place where I can be a suburbanite without feeling responsible for ugly sprawl, and I LOVE Philadlphia, for it's historic old city, gorgeous buildings and murals, fsacinating (if troubled) ethnic nieghborhoods, and HUGE parks.

Also, my particular suburb is within walking distance of a very wealthy nieghborhood just barely within the city that has small town pretentions. It's hideously expensive to shop there, but it's fun to walk on the main street.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-29 12:54am

People in small towns learn to cope with reduced access to cultural landmarks, amenities, and events. After a while, they simply get used to the inconvenience, and stop thinking of it as an inconvenience. Nathan's comment that shopping is only an hour away is a perfect example of this. I'd go insane if I had to drive for an hour to get decent shopping; I have four major shopping malls within 15 minutes drive, not to mention many fine restaurants.

That's one other thing about small towns: their idea of a decent restaurant is my idea of a greasy spoon.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-09-29 12:57am

Darth Wong wrote: That's one other thing about small towns: their idea of a decent restaurant is my idea of a greasy spoon.

Don't knock greasy spoons! Mmmmm Roadside diners kick ass!

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-29 01:09am

MKSheppard wrote:
Darth Wong wrote:That's one other thing about small towns: their idea of a decent restaurant is my idea of a greasy spoon.
Don't knock greasy spoons! Mmmmm Roadside diners kick ass!

They also kick the shit out of your heart and many other vital body parts.

The truly odd thing about small-towners is the way they actually cling to their narrow range of food preferences. Take a small-towner to a fine upscale restaurant, and he will usually bypass the fancy soups, appetizers, and entrees (especially anything with an unfamiliar name or seafood ingredients) in favour of a burger. It's like trying to order food for a little kid.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2003-09-29 01:11am

Sometimes its just cause they're cheap.

Where do you draw the line as to a small town?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-09-29 01:19am

Howedar wrote:Sometimes its just cause they're cheap.

I spent 4 years living in a small town. They simply don't know what upscale food (or real ethnic food, for that matter) tastes like, nor are they interested in finding out.

Where do you draw the line as to a small town?

Obviously, less than 10,000 population fits the bill, but the actual line of demarcation would be somewhat higher, perhaps a few tens of thousands. There's a certain stagnant atmosphere that small towns always have, and certain social traditions such as learning to identify someone by his car, having everyone know what you did on the weekend, being trapped by reputations based on past histories and even family histories, etc.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-09-29 01:22am

Darth Wong wrote: Take a small-towner to a fine upscale restaurant, and he will usually bypass the fancy soups, appetizers, and entrees (especially anything with an unfamiliar name or seafood ingredients) in favour of a burger. It's like trying to order food for a little kid.

Congratulations, you've just described me! When In doubt, I always
order a burger, since I KNOW i'll enjoy it, rather than having wasted
$$$ on something I don't like...I do wish more fancy places actually did
picture menus like some Chinese take out places

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-09-29 01:23am

Darth Wong wrote: They also kick the shit out of your heart and many other vital body parts.

Nothing like Coke, 3 Hot Patties (Pancakes), Scrambled eggs, and bacon
for breakfast! It's the all-american breakfast!

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

Re: Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

Re: Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

Re: Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

Re: Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities

Re: Living in Small Counties vs the Big Cities