Last night I decided to take a walk around Stepanakert, to take a break from the computer. Climbing along Azatamartikneri avenue (one of the main streets), I caught myself thinking that I was tired ... to say hello and answer how my affairs are going, how my health is, also, I was forced to ask similar questions to the one asking me them ... I moved to the other side of the street , where, for some reason, people walk less, slightly unloaded themselves in this regard, but did not reach Piglet. In the evening there is always a large crowd of people, I realized that I couldn’t relax the way I want and went down to my office, to my “fortress”, where I feel calm and no one will ask questions, like, how are you, what are you doing, like health, like parents, children, etc. This does not mean that I run away from communicating with people, it’s just that sometimes I want to relax, take a silent walk, think in silence ... or maybe this is already slowly reminding me of my age .. .

So, last night I thought, is it easy to live in small towns, what are the pros and cons of living in such settlements?

In my opinion, short distances can be attributed to the pluses, when everything is nearby (educational institutions, places of recreation, etc.), you don’t have to go anywhere far. Once I decided to walk from one end of our city to the other and it took me only 25-30 minutes (in big cities, some people need almost the same time to walk to the nearest metro or stop to go to work). Further, I wanted to see nature, breathe clean mountain air - 10 minutes is enough for this and you are already resting from the city, from the noise of cars.

I remember that the children went to school, we were not afraid for them, they went on their own, fortunately, they studied in the same class. Having matured, they went to a cafe in a class to celebrate someone's birthday or celebrate their own - also, no problem, I never worried, I was not afraid for the children. This is also, I think, a big plus for small towns, where parents are not afraid for their children, where crime does not manifest itself in the same way as in big cities. Although, it should be noted that I am talking about our region, and not about others, where, judging by the police reports, something terribly going on...

In small towns, if you do not know a person by name, but seeing him several times, you involuntarily remember the face. I remembered that once in Soviet times I was in Odessa, went to the beach, where I saw a couple. I look, they also paid attention to me, I took a closer look - the faces are familiar, they have become familiar in Stepanakert, but I am not familiar with them. We talked, got to know each other better, now we often communicate here.

The way of life in small towns is different than in big ones. For example, often people know what other neighbors will have for dinner, they know all their close and distant relatives, they know what is going on behind the wall. Grandmothers sit in the courtyard, say, in front of the building, and “filter” everyone who enters the entrances, they know who this or that person is going to. And, if a person is a stranger, they will not hesitate to ask him who he is going to, who he is the owner / mistress of the apartment. In such places, burglaries are simply excluded, even if you do not lock the door. I call such grannies YuDM - young friends of the police. :-))

The life of any person is in full view, which is often unnerving, but you understand that this is such an “order” that you can’t argue against, and maybe it’s good that a person is never alone, they simply don’t give him such “joy” how to be bored. :-))) Seriously, it's good when the neighbors are not indifferent in grief and joy, they are always there and lend a helping hand, they will never leave one ...

One of the main disadvantages of small towns, I think the moment of choice. The choice in everything: from recreation, entertainment (cinemas, theaters, stadiums, etc.), buying clothes, to choosing a kindergarten, school, university, then, most importantly, where and with whom to work after graduation. And here, acquaintances, family ties, etc. are used. In big cities, in this regard, there are much more opportunities. Maybe that's why young people often go to study in Armenia, even in the Russian Federation, because there is more choice, more opportunities for self-realization ...

What makes me really nervous about living in a small town is gossip. They, gossip, surprisingly, acquiring wings, bypass all kindergartens, schools, universities, government agencies, parks, beauty salons, shops, taxis, hairdressers at the speed of light ... In short, you constantly feel in good shape, especially when you hear about someone then some “news”, you try to object, to say that you do not believe this nonsense, and you hear a thoughtful answer: "There is no smoke without fire, so there is SOMETHING if the PEOPLE says..."

But in general, to summarize what has been written, I will say that you can live a full-fledged active life in a small place, having a circle of good friends, like-minded people, or you can live bored in a big city, burning your life, feeling like a grain of sand, but rejoice and be proud that you live in a city of a million people or in some metropolis ...

Some dream of living in a metropolis, others cannot stand the hustle and bustle of a big city and seek to leave it. But how to make the right decision and understand whether this option is right for you? To do this, consider all the advantages and disadvantages of living in a metropolis.

Advantages

First, consider all the advantages of living in a metropolis:

1. Interesting and useful contacts. Indeed, it is much easier to meet interesting people and establish promising connections in a big city than in a small one. The metropolis attracts people, especially ambitious, educated, active and purposeful.
2. The opportunity to get a good education and a prestigious profession. There are more higher educational institutions in the metropolis, and the training of personnel is at the highest level, and therefore there are so many nonresident students here, each of whom dreams, after graduating from the university, to get a start in life and build a career.
3. Living in a metropolis disciplines. You have to get up early every day to get to work, take care of yourself to look good, keep yourself in shape to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
4. More opportunities to build a personal life and start a family. Even the most modest girl in a large city is easier to find a soul mate, because many male residents of megacities are not shy. The representatives of the stronger sex also have many more options. This advantage has several explanations. First, there are more public places where dating usually takes place in large and developed regions. Secondly, residents inevitably contact and interact with each other. Thirdly, you can register on a dating site and meet with a virtual interlocutor.
5. Developed infrastructure. In a large city in every district there are schools and kindergartens, clinics and hospitals, large shops, shopping centers and other institutions that people need for a fulfilling life. Residents of small towns sometimes have to go to large regional centers to receive qualified medical care, solve housing issues, and for other reasons.
6. Various leisure options. In any metropolis there are cinemas, shopping and entertainment centers, restaurants, bars, fast food chains and cafes, museums, water parks, nightclubs, theaters, zoos and much more. The entertainment industry is developed, and new establishments are constantly opening where you can have fun, interesting and even useful time.
7. Availability of different categories of goods. Many manufacturers and suppliers focus specifically on large cities, and therefore we can safely say that it is possible to buy almost everything in them, including cutting-edge gadgets, exotic products and unusual things.
8. Job. There are many more opportunities to build a career in the metropolis, as there are many enterprises and various institutions that need employees, including young, active and creative ones. There are much fewer vacancies in the villages.
9. Opportunity to open a business and grow a business. If you are an enterprising and smart person, then you can become an entrepreneur.
10. Earnings in megacities are an order of magnitude higher than in small settlements, this is a fact. Therefore, the standard of living is better, which opens up opportunities for development, improving the status and financial situation.
11. The ability to travel. All metropolitan areas have international airports, railway and bus stations. In addition, embassies and travel agencies are located here, so organizing a trip abroad is much easier from here than from the village.

disadvantages

Now let's look at the disadvantages of living in a big city:

1. Bad ecology. There are many factories, factories and other enterprises in the metropolis, the emissions of which pollute the environment. Some compounds get into the air and are inhaled by people, other substances get into the water and also inevitably rush into the human body. In addition, there are many more cars in large cities, the emissions of which also have a very negative impact on the environmental situation.
2. Listing all the shortcomings, it is worth including the rhythm of life in their list. In some megacities, it is simply mad, so it will be very difficult for people accustomed to a measured existence to adapt to it. Some, unable to adapt and learn to constantly rush and keep up, eventually change their place of residence.
3. Big competition. To get a good position, you need to make a lot of effort, because several people are likely to apply for it. It is important to be able to show your best side, highlight your positive qualities and prove your capabilities and strengths. Not everyone is ready for this.
4. Frequent illnesses. Unfortunately, residents of megacities get sick much more often than those living in small settlements. Firstly, a frantic rhythm undermines the immune system, due to which the body's defenses weaken, and a person cannot resist the attacks of pathogenic microorganisms. Secondly, due to the congestion of people and high population density, all contagious diseases spread at a rapid pace, which often leads to epidemics. Thirdly, it is sometimes simply impossible to limit contacts with patients, because often they are in close proximity to healthy people.
5. A modern metropolis is a huge number of people, and not everyone likes this feature. If you prefer loneliness, are a modest person, an introvert, or even more so a sociopath who does not know how to exist in society, then you will have a very difficult time.
6. The next minus is important for car owners. Since many residents of large cities have personal transport and have long been not a luxury, but a means of transportation, this inevitably leads to the formation of congestion and traffic jams. Things are much worse with the traffic situation: in megacities, traffic is busier, and accidents happen more often.
7. A huge flow of information that not everyone can handle. To keep abreast of the events taking place in the city and keep up with life, you need to use modern gadgets, regularly study the media, be an active Internet user and be able to process data, filtering out everything unnecessary and highlighting the most important.
8. Small spaces, cramped. Megacities are quickly built up and settled, new people constantly come to them, so at some point you may get the impression of a lack of space, especially if you are used to space and freedom.
9. People. Since many of them are constantly in a hurry, give 100% and get tired at work, they become withdrawn, irritable and indifferent, and this is sad.

Living in a big city has both advantages and disadvantages, so do not rush to the city if you are in doubt and are not ready for change. But new opportunities and perspectives may open before you.

Getting to Graz is very easy from Vienna by train, they run every hour. But trains in Austria are expensive, so you need to know a few life hacks. For example, when buying a ticket through OBB on the Internet, you may stumble upon a discount ticket called Sparschiene. Then a trip from Vienna to Graz will cost you only 9 euros instead of 34 euros. There is also a bus service, but it is more expensive than a promotional train ticket. The train goes through the mountains, and on the way you enjoy the most beautiful views of the Alps. Trust me, it's worth it! Buses can go along the autobahn, which goes outside the mountains. So if you are in Vienna and you have a free day, take a train ticket and go to Graz for one day. It is quite possible to have time to see everything if you leave early in the morning.

Let's look at Graz from a tourist point of view. There is a small pedestrian center without cars (which, by the way, is not in Vienna) where many cozy cafes are located. A beautiful town hall on the main square and the fast-flowing river Mur. By the way, a cafe was built in Graz right in the middle of the river. It has two bridges and connects two parts of the city. As the Austrians told me, this cafe is a symbol of peace and the unity of the city (since it connects the European part of Graz with the part where Muslims live). There is also a modern art museum, one of the symbols of the city, famous for its extraordinary architectural style, which looks like a huge fish.

But the most beauty is located on the mountain - the famous Schlössberg. It can be seen from almost all parts of Graz. This is the most beautiful place in the city, offering gorgeous panoramas. There are three ways to go upstairs - on foot, by funicular and by elevator. The funicular is the most expensive pleasure, the elevator is a little cheaper. Walking is free but tiring. But what views from the top! Brick roofs, the impression that you are not in Austria, but in the former Yugoslavia. It is so - Graz is the former Slovenian city of Gradec, so it has a brown-orange coloring, unlike the white-gray colors of the same Salzburg or Vienna. At the top there is a restaurant with panoramic views and the famous clock tower - the symbol of the city. Here you can spend several hours walking along the observation platforms and admiring the local beauties.

Let's get back to life in the city. As I mentioned earlier, her pulse is at the university, there are many foreigners here who use Graz as a staging post in the process of studying and looking for work in the future. As in many German-speaking cities, the city is divided into areas - more prosperous, where the Austrians live, and less prosperous, where the Turks live. Turks are the largest part of the emigrants in Graz and Vienna. Usually they are engaged in small restaurants a la kebabs and sit on benefits from the state, doing nothing. But, nevertheless, emigrants in Austria, unlike emigrants in the same France, are harmless. They do not touch anyone and they are only interested in how to rip off a larger allowance from the government. Tourists and ordinary residents are of little interest to them. Graz is a safe city. Here you can safely walk at night even in the most unpleasant areas. The only negative of these areas is shabby houses and dirt on the streets. There are no more cons. Graz is the second most important and populated city in Austria, but since it is small, I cannot say that there are many jobs here. All the same, the center of employment in Austria is Vienna. Graz is a kind of province, from where everyone dreams of moving to the capital.

Graz has a network of trams and buses. You can enter without a ticket, but there is a huge chance that a conductor will enter at the next stop, and you will have to pay a fine of more than 100 euros for traveling without a ticket. For example, they checked my ticket once at 23-30 in a tram on the edge of the city. So I wouldn't recommend taking the risk. On the other hand, the city is so small that if you live near the center, you won't need transportation at all. You can walk everywhere in 30-40 minutes, with the exception of areas along the edges of the city. Even the train station is within walking distance. An important point about products. Shops are only open from morning to evening. On Sunday, everything is closed, and you can only buy groceries in the store at the main station. You can imagine the huge queues there. All Graz in one shop. Therefore, either buy food in advance, or crowd in a small store, or sit hungry. The situation is similar in Vienna, but at least there are several of these small shops. Don't forget to shop on Saturdays!

Prices. The city is not cheap. Since, unlike Vienna, the city is small, there are few alternatives. A typical trip to a restaurant will be about 15-20 euros. Hotels from 45 euros and above. Apartment - 400 euros per month minimum, but rather about 450-550. for a one-room apartment of not the best quality. Plus light gas, around 100 euros. Transport subscription for a month about 40 euros. Supermarkets are represented mainly by Billa and Shpar, where prices are of the middle category. From Graz there are good transport links to Vienna and Italy. All buses to Italy go through Graz, to Venice 6 hours. There is also a train to Budapest. The journey to Vienna takes 2.5 hours. More than 3 hours from Salzburg. Around Graz there are also many mountains, you can climb. The nearest high mountains are less than half an hour. The Austrians are very fond of climbing mountains, this is their main hobby. The mountains compensate for the lack of places for leisure activities in the city itself.

Usually there is a small restaurant on the top of the mountain where everyone celebrates a successful ascent. As well as a cross as a sign of the conquest of the mountain and a book where you can enter your names. Climbing a mountain is something! You get tired like a dog, but when you get to the top, you understand how cool it is that you still reached the end. Stunning views, silence, tranquility and peace of mind. For professionals, it is better to climb not in the Graz region, since there are low mountains (about 2000 meters on average), but in the Salzburg or Tyrol region. There the average height of the mountains is higher than 3000 meters. In Graz, I climbed my first mountain in my life to a height of more than 2000 meters, not yet knowing that in the future I would have to get acquainted with the majestic Himalayas! By the way, after the descent, a beautiful lake with turquoise water was waiting for us! True, the water was icy, and it did not work out to swim.

There is another minus in the city. Austria itself is a very environmentally friendly country. But this is not entirely true for Graz. Naturally, the air here is cleaner than in Kyiv or Odessa, but Graz itself is surrounded by mountains from almost all sides. This causes the exhaust gases to stagnate rather than dissipate. But to be honest, those who are accustomed to the gases of large cities of Ukraine, this problem will obviously not backfire. We just don't feel it. Only picky Scandinavians or Austrians living in Tyrol can feel it. Well, it is also worth noting that there is little entertainment here. The Austrian youth lifestyle is basically studying, working, drinking beer and going to the gym. There are no huge centers for entertainment, as in Kyiv, there are no rollerdromes, paintballs or skateboards. There are only a couple of cinemas in the whole city. Bowling club is located on the outskirts of the city. But I want to note that this problem concerns the whole of Austria, and not just Graz. In Vienna, almost the same situation. For young people, it's a bit boring here. For older people, this is paradise - silence, comfort, museums, opera, safety.

I do not want you to get the impression that I am writing about some cons. Trust me, there are a lot of pluses in Austria! What is only free medicine worth! For a long time, paying 800 euros in taxes a month, I did not understand where my money was going. And then, when I needed the help of doctors or social benefits, I realized that the system was functioning just perfectly. Another plus of Graz, like the whole of Austria, is the people. Even if they are closed, and completely different in mentality than we are, but they are cultured, educated and educated. In any restaurant, shop, even on the street - you will smile. A smile, as you know, can make any day more beautiful. Plus, you will not feel negative energy in the air. In 5 years of living in Austria, I have never heard people swear. Although no, I’m lying, once I saw a girl in tears, trying to prove something to her boyfriend. The Austrians keep everything to themselves, and this is good, because there is a continuous positive around you. Even if he is feigned, it is better than hearing swearing, obscenities, discontent.

Overall Grade: 24 out of 30

Attractions: 3/5

Prices: 2/5

Architecture: 5/5

Safety and comfort: 5/5

Transport: 5/5

Climate: 4/5

In my rating, Graz gets high points. There are not many attractions here and prices are a little high, but otherwise the city is very good. Excellent standard of living. The average salary in Graz is about 1400 euros per hand. It is clear that doctors receive more, and sellers in stores less. But on average it's like that. About 1/3 of the salary goes to taxes. But then people have free healthcare and unemployment benefits. Here people are protected, and dismissal from work will never be a reason for a heart attack. In Austria, a person feels like a person. There is no stress and there is confidence in the future. This is perhaps the most important plus of Graz and the whole country as a whole. The country is alpine, the air is fresh here, and everyone drinks water from the tap, as it flows from the mountains. I'll sum it up. Be sure to come to Graz and see this city. He's worth it. And the climax of your trip should be the legendary Schlössberg. Austria is not only Vienna, in order to understand how this beautiful country lives, you need to at least see Graz, Salzburg and stop by Hallstatt.

Many people dream of moving from the "province" to large cities, including those of federal significance, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg. However, such a move often confuses the frantic pace of life and poor ecology.

There is an exit! You can move to small towns located in close proximity to the most important cities in Russia. Life in the Leningrad region attracts with the wealth of cultural and historical heritage.

At present, in the city of Kommunar (Gatchinsky district, Leningrad region), more and more high-quality housing has begun to appear that meets the needs of a modern person. For example, monolith-brick houses in the residential complex "Grafskaya Sloboda". This area will be a great option for those who want to buy a two-room apartment in Kommunar, convenient layouts for one- and three-room apartments are also available.

Pros of living in a small town

First of all, it is ecological cleanliness. Kommunar is a green city. There are a lot of plantings here. The forest zone is extensive, adjacent to the city. In addition, the cities of Pavlovsk and Pushkin are not so far from the residential complex "Grafskaya Sloboda" (about 10-15 minutes drive). This is a great place for walking and relaxing.

The air in Kommunar is cleaner than in St. Petersburg. The reasons are obvious - there is less transport, industrial enterprises. The main production in the city is concentrated around the pulp and paper industry. There are no traffic jams here.

From the LCD "Grafskaya Sloboda" you can walk to shops, pharmacies and other infrastructure. There are schools and kindergartens in the city. Getting into them is not as difficult as in a big city.

The level of security here is higher than in the northern capital. You can safely let the children go for a walk in the yard. Residential complex "Grafskaya Sloboda" has playgrounds and sports grounds. They are made of modern materials and meet safety requirements.

The microclimate is also important - the inhabitants of small towns are always more friendly and open.

In a word, in the city of Kommunar there is no oppressive feeling of a “stone jungle”. It is easier to breathe here, literally and figuratively.

Disadvantages of living in a small town

One of the downsides is that there are fewer entertainment options in smaller towns. Of course, compared to St. Petersburg, there are not so many of them. However, the cultural capital can always be reached by public or private transport. And in the city itself you can find something to do.

Another disadvantage is a small choice for employment. Many choose this option - life in Kommunar, work - in St. Petersburg. The city is about 30 minutes by car. You can get to the exit to the ring road or the metro station "Kupchino" by private car. Buses and fixed-route taxis also run to the city. Another option is rail transport. Antropshino stop is within walking distance from the residential complex "Grafskaya Sloboda". There are buses and minibuses to St. Petersburg, Pushkin, Pavlovsk.

What are the advantages of the Residential Complex "Grafskaya Sloboda" itself?

In fact, there are a lot of advantages, we list only the main ones.

The houses were built using monolithic-brick technology. The apartments in them are warm, the level of sound insulation is high;
The house has only 5 floors. This is a plus, because there is no feeling of space congestion, fewer neighbors;
Sufficient number of parking spaces;
There are children's and sports grounds;
Heating of houses autonomous;
Plastic windows are reliable, have a double-glazed window;
There are glazed loggias (from the 1st floor);
Black finish. Walls, ceilings and floor are leveled, prepared for further processing.

In a word, life in a small town in the Leningrad region attracts with a calm and measured pace of life, clean air. In addition, real estate here has a more affordable cost. Houses are built according to modern quality and safety standards, meet all construction and fire safety standards.

It can be difficult for a person who lives all his life, and quite happily, in the countryside, and even in his own big house, to understand why a person can lock himself in the cages of city apartments and breathe exhaust fumes.

At one time, I exchanged a small provincial town for a metropolis, and I don’t regret it at all. What the metropolis gave me at that time was, first of all, an interesting job and self-realization. Over the course of five years, I identified more and more advantages in living in Moscow, but then suddenly they began to end, or rather, lose their value.

So, what gives living in a metropolis:

1. Interesting work. The choice of professions and specialties tends to infinity, so whoever you want to become - in the metropolis it is))) However, if you don’t know what you wanted to do, then it will certainly be more difficult to understand this diversity, but I think it’s more likely plus than minus)

2. Earnings. Say what you like, but in a metropolis you can always make money, at least on anything, you can even make money out of thin air, here it is limited only by fantasy. I know a person who makes money by helping people collect documents for a loan and takes them to the bank for him, and then receives a response from the bank, he is not responsible for the refusal))) It's just that in the metropolis people are ready to pay money to anyone who can save them time, which is an irreplaceable resource.

3. Availability of trips abroad. All embassies, airlines are based in megacities, and the level of salaries allows you to travel more. from a metropolis is much easier and cheaper than from a small provincial town. I wrote about the main advantage of traveling - it is the expansion of the worldview through acquaintance with other peoples and cultures.

4. Diverse leisure. The metropolis provides great things - you need to somehow rest and relax after the frantic rhythm of the big city. At the same time, leisure can be both cultural and active, and uncivilized and passive - everything is limited, again, by fantasy and a wallet.

5. Interesting people. The metropolis attracts like a magnet people who want to achieve something in life and contribute to the development of society. Life in a big city is changing rapidly, the flow of information is increasing, and such a life requires a rather extraordinary mindset. Of course, along with such people, the metropolis attracts all kinds of rabble, but there are still enough interesting people here. In a metropolis, you can always find a company of interest and build an environment that is close to you in terms of views and life positions, which is important for personal development.

But, in addition to these obvious and important advantages, the metropolis also has obvious cons, which it makes no sense to list in such detail - these are bad ecology, crowds of people, small spaces, a frantic rhythm, a flow of information. But the main disadvantage of a big city is the imposition of values, in this variety of everything it is difficult to understand what you really need.

Having lived in Moscow for more than 5 years, you begin to realize that, in general, these pluses can be obtained anywhere, you just have to want, and the lack of nature, air and freedom is very acutely felt.