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| We traded this... |
Cities are great places. They are exciting and interesting hives of activity. I lived in a city of a million people for almost a decade, and I mostly enjoyed it.
However, it is my hope that I will never have to live in a large city again. Or even a small city.
About 55% of the global population currently lives in cities. That is over 4 billion people. The UN projects this will rise to almost 70% by 2050.
Around 80% of Canadians live in cities, meaning the rest of the land is virtually empty. That is where I will be found.
Don’t get me wrong. I love people. I just don’t want to live around a whole busy bunch of them. For my nervous system, that is urban overload.
That is why my dream has always been to live in as remote and beautiful a location as possible.
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| ...for this. No traffic jams here. |
Currently, I live in an amazingly quiet and beautiful district in Nova Scotia with 4.4 people per square kilometre.
The largest city I have ever lived in has a density of 1,550 people per square kilometre.
I’m headed in the right direction.
If you're plotting your own escape, start small: Pick a day for a "rural reconnaissance"—drive, hike, or research a low-density spot that appeals to you.
No commitments, just some testing - sense the quiet, note what your nervous system is telling you.
A low-stakes audit can turn dreams into coordinates, like it did for us.
How about you?
Are you a city person, or does rural living appeal to you more?
Have you had enough? Are you planning to escape the urban overload?
Let us know your plan in a comment below.
