Is The City Still The Place To Be?
In countries across the world, the arrival of COVID19 saw people flee the cities and head out to the countryside. Those who stayed may be asking themselves if they should do the same. If you have a real yearning to live in the country, then the answer to that question may well be yes. If, however, you’re not sure, then you might want to think carefully before giving up the city.
Cities still have a lot going on
Whether it’s work or play, it’ll be going on in the city. Much has been made of the shift towards remote working. This may indeed be a long-term change, but it’s only part of the story. Careers aren’t built just on the work you do at your desk (although this is important). They’re built on human interactions and networking.
Virtual networking sessions are a lot better than nothing. They are, however, still a long way from having the same sort of impact as real-world events. When you're in a city, you have the option to blend work and play or to keep them separate (or to do a bit of both). This means that you can maximize your networking opportunities to push your career forward (if you want to).
If you’re not a “career person”, it can still be wonderful to enjoy the social side of city life. Even when attractions are closed, you can often have fun just exploring the outside. Many cities are full of interesting sights which are often overlooked by tourists.
Cities are the places to develop your skills
Like online retail, online learning has improved massively over recent years. There are probably some skills you can learn just as well online as you can in the real world. For many others, however, real-world classes are the best, if not the only, way to go.
Classes with any sort of “hands-on” element are obviously best delivered in the real world. Even classes that are purely academic can, however, benefit from real-world interaction between the students and the teacher or between the students themselves.
This is often particularly important if you’re studying to improve your career prospects. A lot of employers want to see that you can work both on your own and under a team. This is exactly why courses often include both solo and group assignments.
City life is convenient
Online shopping is getting better all the time, but it’s still not as good as having direct access to all the retailers you find in cities. That’s even before you get started on all the services available there. You’re just not going to get those in the countryside.
What’s more, the city is generally the place to find condominiums (as well as apartments and houses). Most of the many advantages of buying a condominium hinge on the fact that they combine the convenience of renting with the benefits of homeownership. In particular, you can leave a lot of repairs and maintenance to the management company.
It’s also worth noting that many condominiums offer some form of outdoor space. For example, they may have balconies, roof gardens, and communal outdoor areas. This gives you the same sort of benefits as a private garden, but without the hassle of maintaining it.
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