IfIwereaskedtochoosewhethertoliveeitherinasmalltownorinabigcity,Iwouldnothesitatetochoosethesmalltown.Igrewupinadelightfulonemyself.BelowIdescribesomeofthestrikingcontrastsIhavefound.
Firstofall,Iputapremiumonmyhealth.Thereismuchmorepollutioninacitythaninasmalltown.forone,wanttobreathecleanairanddrinkcleanwater.Apersonwhospendsmostofhisdailylifeinthecity–whereallofthehuman-madeimpuritiesarethemostconcentrated–willsimplynotbeashealthyashewouldhavebeeninasmalltown,withthesamehabits.Likemostpeople,Ihopetolivealong,healthylifethatIcanspendwithmybelovedfamilyandfriends.
IhaveoftenfeltthatIcannottrustanyofthecountlessstrangersIseewhenIamthere.InthetownwhereIgrewup,everyoneknewoneanother,andnoonefeltaneedeventolockhisorherdoor.Inthecity,onelockseverything–car,house,andbicycle–becausenottodosowouldbefoolish.