I’ve grown up and lived in a medium sized town in the Midlands most of my life. During my late teens, 20s, and early 30s I’ve always enjoyed weekends away in Manchester, Birmingham, and London a few times a year, visiting friends and going to events.
Just got back from a weekend in London, the first one in a couple of years, and I just feel… drained. In all honesty I felt that way by the end of the first day.
I’ve never wanted to live in London, but in the past I’ve always enjoyed myself there for a long weekend. This time felt different, exhausting. Is it an age thing? Has anyone else found themselves enjoying city life less and less as they get older?
To me, it feels like cities get people who’ve been backed into a corner by capitalism.
Where their only option to make enough money to survive is a badly paid job in a city where their only option for accommodation is small and not pleasant.
And a lot of the feel of a city is reflected by that.
If you are forced to work 50+ hours a week on unpredictable contracts, and your entire world shrinks to a bedroom, a car choked walk to work, and Tesco Metro, you’re less likely to be saying “good morning” to people as you pass them.