Wow! We are amazed and awed by the thoughtful and personal responses we've received on our poll! Wherever you call "home", thanks for sharing the meaningful stories and photos from the country, city and suburbs!

More space, more air! Country all the way.

I live in rural Aotearoa / New Zealand & absolutely love it. Our closest town is just over 32kms away, with a population of 3000 & all the amenities we need. Definitely country for me :)

Does it really need to be one or the other? How about what some other countries consider a norm like every single home having extensive vegetable and fruit gardens on the whole of their homes landscape? What would you consider that? That's not your typical American burb to be sure. I think THAT is what we all ought to be aspiring to: containing our gutter drainage to use in gardens. Then living in a Burb is more convenient than living farther out in the country and it would be pleasant as well because people wouldn't be hiding away. Your neighbors would be out there working in their yards and maybe stopping to have a cool drink on a front porch or stoop. Ordinances need to change and quickly to accommodate much needed changes.

I voted country, but if the address were rue Montorgueil, 2e
Arrondissement, Paris, I would definitely go city.

When they look like that...both of course!! It would be too hard to make a decision on either end one...I'm torn.

I live in a town with 30,000 people. It's 20 minutes to Niagara Falls, Ontario, 15 minutes to the U.S. and less than 2hrs to Toronto. The interesting thing is that the majority of people who move here to retire are from Toronto and the large cities surrounding Toronto. So the city lovers change as they age I guess. At some point the small town atmosphere, the beautiful beaches along Lake Erie, the knowledge that you can walk out at night alone safely is what they are searching for in their golden years and if they need a city fix it's not too far away.

Country..... My idea of vacation is to slap on a backpack and get back away from roads and civilization about 30 miles. No city getaways for this girl.

I love living in the country with animals, a garden and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It's the only place I can sleep well, since there's no light or noise pollution (if you don't mind crickets and frogs). However, I live close enough to a city that I can have a date at a restaurant with my husband, get a haircut, or shop if I want to! This picture is of a lamb we bottle fed, standing on the porch with my lavender and rosemary plants.

Neither or both. In between. Town of White Bear Lake. Close to the city and close to the country. Not the burbs, but a outer ring from the city. The best of both!

live in the country, visit the city

In between for me, too! 15 minutes from the city, 15 minutes to the country in--gasp--the suburbs! I'm happy in the suburbs as long as my neighborhood has LOTS of mature trees, the houses all look different, and I don't have a postage stamp sized lot.

Nothing sophisticated and elegant about my "city" house. But..."New York is where I'd rather stay, I get allergic smelling hay". Although my dream home is a huge farm where I can take in all the abused and abandoned dogs and cats, etc. So, I want to be both city and country.

I lived in a city condo with a dog for 3-1/2 months. I need space and dirt to dig in.

Although the 'sound' of country living is VERY appealing... and I've tried it twice, it REALLY didn't work for me. We found it much more work and wherever we wanted to go it was a much longer drive. So, the money 'saved' living rural was eaten up in gas & car maintenance. I personally felt isolated. Back to 'city' living again... not a super large city, Spokane, WA... and I LOVE it!!

I suppose it also depends on your definition of city and country. Folk who were born and raised in majors cities Toronto, New York etc would think I live in the country or that somewhere where you have a lawn to mow and no retail establishments within a feet of their front doors is country. And Folks who live on hundreds of acres with miles between neighbours would call me city folk because there is a Timmies (Tim Hortons down the road and a grocery store less than a mile away. Its all perception I guess. I like the idea of the conveniences of a city but NOT actually living in one.

After living in big cities and dense suburban communities most of my life, last year we purchased a home in a rural area outside a small town. It was the best move we ever made. The small town is close for essentials shopping while a large city is half an hour away. The tranquility and beauty of country living is to our liking and we will stay here a long time..... perhaps forever.
We have deer, raccoon, squirrels, rabbits, possum and huge oaks and pines with many flowering shrubs on a large lot. The beauty of the cultivated plants evolve smoothly into the natural wooded area which encompasses a great deal of our property. A gorgeous river from

natural springs flows about a mile away. I will go to the big city for dinner and the theater but I am so glad to come home to this paradise.

I love variety and thought that both looks were great and nicely done!

I lovvvvvvvvvve city lights but the land and all it's greenery is where my heart is.

I've thought about this for years. It has changed with my age. And I think it depends on the city, depends on the country, and the latter certainly depends on the climate/season. Over the years I have had country gardens amid open lawns, a village cottage garden, now a walled garden in a desert city. I think I could learn to be happy downsized to just a little urban balcony, provided there is room for two chairs, some potted plants and herbs, to say nothing of a good book or a good friend, and a nice bottle of wine.

Thanks everyone for sharing your fascinating incites and enticing pictures!

Love where I live, country, with Kansas City within 30 min. drive if I want City, and great shopping within 15 minutes from home for everyday shopping.

My beautiful rural back yard any day over city life!

I was raised a half mile down the road. This is technically 'farm country,' but we do live in town, a very small town. Most houses in this small town have about an acre of land and there are several ponds, so it seems very country. The school systems are one high school districts, and we have a 'sheriff' rather than a police force.

There's a creek behind us and a corn field across the road.

I have found the biggest problem around here is some of the people who move out here. Not all of course, but the others I call 'city people.' Moving out here they think we have no laws, the biggest being the dog laws.

I have heard several racist comments from people who moved into the town and I pointed out that just because there are no African American families in our school district, that does NOT mean we tolerate such statements. When her husband told me another, I was so glad they moved.

My Dad grew up about 2 miles away, on a farm, so the country genes are old. I married a city boy, but he has adjusted well

There are times when I leave the house every 2 weeks or so, and am very happy. I started a yard that is basically based on a cottage garden, why, whatever would it do without me deadheading every day?

I have 3 blue spruces, that each of my kids brought home as 10" seedlings, when their 5th grade class visited the county conservation 'farm.' My oldest is now 31. Only in the country would that happen.

That reminds me of a country story:

I was having a garage sale (the last day it rained the year of the drought, the last garage sale I ever had) and 2 ladies stopped. They seemed to be in their 80's and their dress was 'prim and proper' There was no one else at the sale at the time, so, we chatted. (while they were shooting baskets at the hoop we had in the driveway)

They went through the flowers in the side yard, we chatted, and they asked if they could see the back. Sure! What a wonderful visit it was, the highlight seeing them skip down a stone path, singing the song they sang as they skipped in the garden as children, in ENGLAND! They were sisters.

I regret never getting their names, but treasure the memory.

I love living in the country

I love being able to see the stars at night, to buy fresh produce from the neighbor's farms, listen to real quiet, all things you can do in the country. when I need to be in the city, I can go there in an hour, do my business and come home to peace and quiet. Love the country!!!!

I don't want big city living, but suburbia would suit me fine :) I am not a way out in the country type of girl either.

I split my time between a small cottage across from a small lake and 3 blocks from the beach and a home 10 minutes outside of NYC. It's a wonderful balance.

City. Small house,small lot. Always have the best house on the block! Can always visit the country-smell the smells, take some photos, stop and talk with folks, get some cuttings or clippings, make a friend-then go home to my "shangrala"", spend 10 minutes cutting the grass, sit back and watch the people stare at the beauty growing in the city.

Thanks everyone for your inspiring comments and for sharing your own wonderful homes with all of us! City, Country or Suburb - there's no place like home.

I'm a city girl I inside and out!

Live in the city and live a full life! I grew up in the country and tried living in the country, and realized that "life was just passing me by." There are rewards to both lifetstyles, but I have chosen to live near the city.

Are we talking decorating or location? For location I prefer the country. In decorating I like a little of both.

I grew up in the country and still live in the country. My husband and I actually built a home from a severed lot on my Dad's farm. (Which, unfortunately had been sold awhile back and everything torn down) We did live in the city for a bit when I was still home and then when I first got married....the city or even going into town is where you go to get supplies or visit friends, so cities are necessary....but I could only live in the country. I'm a country girl!

....here is an aerial photo

oh, tough - both sides have their beauty! I am a city freak loving most of its beats and colours, yet dreaming about a cute mansion in the country side with a big garden and horse stud-farm!

Voted for city though

Me gusta el estilo country, es campestre, fresco y tranquilo

I couldn't vote because I love BOTH! I can go into both country or city mode easily. They both have their pro's & con's. In the city = Culture & convenient shopping, also traffic & smog. In the country =Fresh air & peace & serenity, but bears with big teeth walking through yard & eating at your garbage cans.

How about country living in the city? I found a perfect 1.25 acre lot in the city with mature pines. I'm Lovin it :)

I loved our country life in the mountains of Montana. It was so quiet I could hear the whoosh of a bird's wings as they flew overhead and never got tired of seeing a bear or moose walk by the window.

I love living in the country. Watching wildlife and listening to birds is so nice. As well as the solitude.

How beautiful, Norma. We can see why you chose country!

I was born a farmers daughter. After I married though we moved around to a few different towns but I'm so happy now to be in the country. No nosey neighbors just coyotes, skunks, racoons, deer and lots of mosquitos in the summer.

Country - amazing beautiful, healthy, fresh, no noise like in the city. It's the best place to live and grow kids!

My favorite living area is the suburbs since you are not in the city but not way out in the country!

I like either one, for different reasons.

Country life suits me best. I lived in Chicago for 25 years and while I enjoyed living in the city, I really found my love of gardening when we moved out to the suburbs.

I love living in a fairly remote small town, but prefer to live in the town rather than further out. It's the best of both worlds in a way, to have little traffic and a close-knit community, plus easy access to vast wilderness, and be able to walk or ride your bike to run errands or go to the coffee shop or brewery.

I say both the city and the country are good. I've lived in both environments.

And it really varies.

Burbs.

On boy...that’s a tough one but realistically I think the country...knowing what the city is like and all its wonders, I am older now and prefer the sounds of nature and the feel of it in doing gardening! The small wonders of the country is better for me now! Ideally to have an apt. In the city ..........to go back and forth! 👍