Where I live. We have some pretty great pubs, not so many as there were, but some remain. Some of them span four centuries.
The cost of living is reasonable, you don’t need to be a millionaire to buy a house here, but if you are, you’ll find something with a view worth every penny.
This area commands some of the most awesome natural beauty you’ll find anywhere on the planet, and just the sight of the golden sands and snowcapped peaks on the short walk to the village local were more than enough to make me stay.
My mornings greet me with cattle mooing, lambs bleating, or cackling migratory birds resting the night, depending on the time of year. And the sun rises without fail to a fierce red sky from the behind the highest hill to the east.
The population mix is somewhat jumbled, with a prominent Irish presence, and a polish community that long predates the current wave of migration, along with Asian and Muslim communities that bring some great eateries. On top of that, the transient population brought here from across the world to our local universities gives us an enormous cultural mix. The street food of the Saturday market are amazing and varied, but expensive.
But we are still a small town, two small towns to be fair, separated by a river and appalling transport links, but everywhere is accessible on foot or a short bus ride.
The crime rate is low. Even the derelict slumyards are safe to visit at night and the sunken faced druggies largely keep themselves to themselves.
We have good schools, some as good as the best you’ll find anywhere. It’s s generally safe area and a good place to raise kids.
On the downside. Not much employment in the area. There are some professional positions, but they’re limited to a small number of big employers. Most people on a good income commute south. I did that for a while and it put me right off work. Not seeing my firstborn awake during the week, except for nightfeeds soon taught me what really mattered.
Being a semi rural university town, we seem to have a lot of smug lefties, champagne socialists and Green Party voters. Nimbysm seems to stunt much of the city’s growth. Yeah, the environment matters, but we gotta live too. Homelessness is an issue too.
One thing I wish I could change though is the weather. This year isn’t so bad but we get a lot of rain, lots and lots.
I live in a nice place. I have my own crayonista journal of what I’d change , but it’s rather nice the way it is.
best: All four seasons.
worst: winter***********
might be time to apply for that citizenship certificate from Canada soon.
