Five years ago, we made the life-changing decision to leave the city and move to a village surrounded by forests. Moving out of the city wasn’t a choice my husband and I made lightly, but it has changed our lives in ways we never imagined. So, how has my life transformed, and do I miss the conveniences of city living?
Life in the city
In the city, I was always overwhelmed. The constant noise, the busy streets, and being surrounded by so many people drained my energy. As an introvert, it felt suffocating to live in a place that never seemed to rest.
For five long years, my husband and I lived in a tiny 35-square-meter apartment, without even a proper bedroom. We slept on a sofa in the living room. Looking back, it’s almost funny how we used to dream about having a bedroom and a real bed.
That said, there were good things too. There were artisan shops just a block away, a library I could visit daily, and the public transportation was frequent and reliable.
But the hectic pace, combined with the small apartment where we couldn’t change anything because it wasn’t ours, wore us both down. We knew we needed a change.
We’ve come to realize that we weren’t made for city life. We lived there because we had to, not because we wanted to, and I believe that took the biggest toll on my health.
Need for a change
We both longed for a different kind of life. We dreamed of a place where we could breathe, where we could truly live instead of just getting by. Another apartment wasn’t going to cut it. We wanted to be close to nature, to build something that felt like ours, a space where we could grow. Most importantly, we wanted a place where our dog can run freely on grass instead of hot asphalt and enjoy long walks in nature.
So, when our finances and our work permitted, we decided to take a leap. We bought a piece of land in a quiet village and began building our home. I won’t go into all the details, but planning and bringing such a big, expensive project to life was incredibly stressful. There were moments when I doubted we could do it. It was one of the most challenging things we’ve ever taken on, but also the most rewarding.
It took us two long years to build and settle into our new home, but it was worth it. We finally had a place we could truly call home.
What my life looks like now
We poured all our love into our new house. It’s smaller than a standard home but has enough space for our family, and we used sustainable materials to minimize our impact on the environment. It turned out so cozy and perfect! This place radiates positive energy, and everyone who visits feels it too. It truly feels like a shelter from the world, not just a concrete box where you sleep.
When I look out my window, I see the gentle sway of trees instead of gray buildings. The air is fresh, the mornings are peaceful, and the sunsets paint the sky in ways that make me stop and just take it all in.
Our dog now runs freely in our yard, we adopted a stray cat and we’ve started growing our own garden, slowly but surely creating a life that feels more like us. We even planted over 35 trees on our land!
While I may not have the conveniences I had in the city, with careful planning, everything is possible. I don’t mind driving farther for groceries because the scenery along the way is beautiful. And if I don’t feel like driving far, I can always order things online.
Conclusion
Moving out of the city wasn’t easy, but it was the best decision we ever made. Here, I’ve found the calm and connection to nature that I didn’t know was possible.
My life is slower, more intentional, and full of possibilities.
I’m excited to see what comes next.