There's plenty of non-dense places for people to live in, yet for some reason more and more people move to cities. Maybe it's because of the density and its benefits, not despite it?
First, no one can force you or anyone else to live in a dense urban area. In fact, the denser the urban core the more less dense options right outside the city core for people such as yourself. Second, you are in the minority. Dense cities are dense for a reason: far from being anxiety-provoking, many people find urban areas very desirable place to live.
There's nothing inherent about dense cities that make them more desirable to live in especially absent convenience to offices--no matter how carefully planned. There are tradeoffs. I could absolutely live in a pretty nice city and choose not to do so.
That doesn’t even make sense…density is allowed in a lot of rural places, there just isn’t demand for more. People that live in high density areas, want to live there because it’s a city. They aren’t going to want to put up with both living in a high density building and rural area because that’s the worst possible combination. But people put up with living in a high density area because of the benefits of a city and people put up with the inconvenience of rural area because of the space. They are kind of mutually exclusive ideas.
Some people choose to live in dense cities. And that's great. Other people would like a bit more space. And that's great also. Still others want a rural life. This world is big enough to accommodate all of it. I for one feel people would benefit from having a bit less noise and a bit more space in their lives (both mentally and physically). If you want to live in a dense place, go live in the downtown of any major city. I fail to understand the urge to increase density outside city centers that have the infrastructure to support it.
Some people choose to live in dense cities. And that's great. Other people would like a bit more space. And that's great also. Still others want a rural life. This world is big enough to accommodate all of it. I for one feel people would benefit from having a bit less noise and a bit more space in their lives (both mentally and physically). If you want to live in a dense place, go live in the downtown of any major city. I fail to understand the urge to increase density outside city centers that have the infrastructure to support it.
A lot of people simply don't want to live in a crowded city in an apartment crowded on every side with other apartments. I'd prefer a location in a low-density suburban area (with a lot of forest around me) where I could get to the city in a few minutes.
But I do love urban density! I grew up and lived 90% of my life in big cities. Moving to a village was a big shift for me. I love the space but I also appreciate it's boring AF.
If I could choose I'd probably go for a house, not as big, within 1 hour trip to a big city. That way I could get the best balance for my lifestyle.
Thanks for providing this POV. Many of the responses here seem to think that density is a good thing. I feel the completely opposite way -> I need space. I need space away from my neighbors. I like not having other people park their cars next to my home. I like not hearing my neighbors have an argument or a party. I like not sharing the walls of my home with others. I like walking on a path by myself sometimes.
There might be folks that like high density living, but please understand that there are others that prefer the opposite. It might be due to personality type or stage of life but there is no one size fits all.
But not everyone wants to live in a sprawling suburb, but we've engineered financial and educational systems and property rights norms that make it difficult for even those who wish to live in a dense city to choose to do so.
I'm opposed to high density housing as well, for myself, personally. That's why I don't live in a city.
But being opposed to it generally, in a city no less, is a bit ridiculous. Either you want/need to live in a place with a ton of people or you don't. If you don't like traffic and neighbors upstairs don't live in a city. If you don't like long drives to the grocery store and needing to rely on a car to get around and on interpersonal business instead of professional employment, live in a city. But this middle of the road, cake and eat it too, cities designed for cars, urban sprawl by ordinance just makes things suck for everyone involved, it's the worst of both worlds.
You're right - I do not want to live in dense cities. I did it for years, and hated it. I was happy when I was able to move out into a detached home where I can use speakers and not have to worry about a neighbor getting angry.
It's only one neighbor out of the 6 I would share separating walls with, but one is all it takes.
First, understand that I am not suggesting you or others like you are wrong, if you are happy then cool.
But... I simply cannot understand the desire to live in such close proximity to large numbers of other people. Never ever again will I subject myself to high density living. I live in a suburb and simply hate having to go downtown especially when there are big events going on. The bars are crowded, eating establishments are packed, noisy has hell. Won't do it, you can't make me!
I like the quiet, I like being able to walk into a suburban bar and not have to shoulder my way through a crowd to try to find a seat if one is even available. It's nice to simply walk in, sit down on a bar stool and actually hear the game on the TV. I like not having the noise of a city outside my window when I sleep.
The greatest freedom of all is that either of us can make the choice of what lifestyle suits us.
I don’t want high density housing. But I want things that require high density housing: the ability to walk to lots of places and good public transportation when I want to go farther.
I’ve compromised on an expensive lower density location which has a bit of that. I’m happy with it, but plenty of people will make those compromises differently.
It would be great if we could all live in big houses with big yards and have stores and restaurants down the street, but basic economics and geometry means you can’t.
I dislike density and can't stand not having lots and lots of space. I love the look and feel of sprawl, and I want more of it... you couldn't pay me to live in an urban environment.
Crowded cities feel like something out of the past to me. Like, my great-grandparents lived in a crowded city when they first came to this country, and every subsequent generation has moved farther and farther out into the burbs. Moving to a city would feel like moving to 1901 to me.
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