Having grown up in New York, lived in LA, trailer parks in west bumfuck NJ and PA, and finally settled on living in San Diego, I'm still not sure what I'd prefer. I love New York, and love the fact that it's always awake, always moving, and one isn't bound by the time of day. The ability to walk places is great, and I've yet to see another city that matched New York's pedestrian friendliness.
But I also have liked the time I've spent in small towns. It's great driving around the US, seeing small towns which actually have character and aren't some tourist attracitons, or strip malls. It's great see places where each house is different and people don't live on top of one another.
I think RedL|ne had it right, when I'm young the city, when I'm ready to settle the country all the way.
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