I currently live in Canada's largest city, Toronto, I've never particularly enjoyed it, and after 20+ years I hate it....the noise, dirt, traffic congestion, rudeness/self centre-ness of people. I'm so over it. But working in IT, that's where the jobs are. I now work 100% remote, and DH retires in 9 months. We're moving 15 minutes outside a town of 1,000 people and 30 minutes outside a town of 20,000. But we'll be in cottage country, lake-front. This area explodes in the summer with the 'rich Toronto' folk who own vacation homes there......I will not be one of those people talking about how things are better in the city. Because of the wealth (or willingness to be in debt) of the 'city folk' (they have 2+ million dollar second homes), there will always be a way to get any exotic ingredient I need for recipes, or it's the cost of anyone wanting to visit me - "pick up X".
What I'm looking forward to - more isolation, both DH and I are quite happy on our own, easy access to great motorcycling roads, walking trails, snowshoe trails, snow mobile trails, boating, fishing, community events (small town fairs). I don't find that Toronto has any sense of community, I live in the north end of Toronto, that was a suburb 30 years ago. No sense of community at all.....I'm looking forward to being part of a community. The only thing we won't be successful with is 'stealth wealth'.....we bought nearly 3 acres of water front, and are building a custom built house....even driving my 17 year old Forester, people will figure it out.........although in the little community we bought in, I think we're the 'poor' neighbors. We only bought 1 lot, not 2 or 4 like the others, it will be our only home, not somewhere we summer or visit occasionally.
maybe when I'm under 4 feet of snow in the winter, I'll feel otherwise, but I don't think I will....To each their own. I know people who thrive in the down-town vibe of a big city, I'm just not one of them.