WHY WE MOVED FROM THE BIG CITY TO THE COUNTRYSIDE | London to rural Sussex

Alexandra Reuter

2 Sept 202111:43

Summary

TLDRThis video script narrates the journey of the speaker and Josh, who moved from bustling London to a serene countryside life in Sussex. They share the challenges and joys of adapting to a slower pace, embracing nature, and finding community. The speaker reflects on the creative energy and sense of belonging that comes from living close to nature, and expresses a desire for an even deeper connection with the wilderness.

Takeaways

🏡 The speaker and their partner, Josh, moved from London to the rural Sussex countryside over three years ago, living in a Tudor farmhouse surrounded by nature.
🌳 The speaker contrasts the bustling city life in London with the calm, spacious, and nature-filled life in the countryside.
👩‍🎨 In London, the speaker was drawn to the city's vibrancy and history but eventually felt overwhelmed by the noise, pressure, and crowdedness.
🍃 The move to the countryside brought a slower pace of life, less external stress, and a deeper connection with nature.
🚜 Living in the countryside comes with challenges such as limited public transport, unreliable internet, and difficulty in finding community.
🌱 The speaker now spends more time outdoors, growing their own food and enjoying the simple pleasures of nature.
🎸 The speaker feels more creative and inspired in the countryside, learning new skills like playing the guitar, singing, and writing music.
🐦 Being closer to nature has made the speaker more aware of ecological issues and the importance of sustainability.
😊 The past three years in the countryside have been some of the happiest for the speaker, who now feels a strong sense of belonging and connection to the natural environment.
🌲 The speaker is considering an even more remote lifestyle in the future, such as living in a wooden cabin in the forest.

Q & A

What prompted the narrator and Josh to move from London to the countryside?
-The narrator and Josh moved to the countryside because they were seeking a calmer and more nature-oriented lifestyle, as they started to feel anxious and claustrophobic in the bustling city of London.
How did the narrator's experience of growing up in Germany influence their dream of moving to London?
-The narrator's visit to London at the age of 14 sparked a fascination with the city's skyline, buzz, and culture, which led to a long-standing dream of living there.
What were some of the challenges the narrator faced in adjusting to life in the countryside?
-Some challenges included the lack of convenience in accessing supermarkets and public transport, the absence of mobile phone reception, and the unreliable internet requiring the narrator to hike up a hill to upload videos.
How did the narrator's living situation in London differ from their life in the countryside?
-In London, the narrator lived in property guardianships with community volunteers, experiencing sudden problems and malfunctions. In contrast, in the countryside, they enjoy more space, less noise, and a slower pace of life with fewer external forces determining their inner pace.
What creative outlets did the narrator find in the countryside that they didn't have in London?
-The narrator discovered a sense of creative energy in the countryside, leading to the creation of videos, learning to play the guitar, singing, and writing their own music.
How did the narrator's perception of their surroundings change after moving to the countryside?
-The narrator became more aware of the subtle changes in nature throughout the year and felt more in tune with the seasons, experiencing a sense of belonging and being part of the ecosystem.
What is the significance of the narrator's mention of ecological destruction and climate breakdown?
-The mention signifies the narrator's heightened awareness and concern for the environment, which has led them to feel more grounded and motivated to contribute to finding effective and creative solutions to these issues.
How did the narrator describe the process of meeting new people and finding a community in the countryside?
-The narrator found it more challenging to meet people and find a community in the countryside compared to London, where they were surrounded by people with diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. However, they were fortunate to have lovely neighbors.
What are some of the practical adjustments the narrator had to make after moving to the countryside?
-The narrator had to adjust to the lack of nearby amenities like supermarkets and public transport, and they eventually purchased a second-hand hybrid car for transportation. They also had to adapt to the absence of mobile phone reception and unreliable internet.
How did the narrator's lifestyle change in terms of growing their own food after moving to the countryside?
-The narrator now spends more time outdoors, with much more space to grow their own fruit and vegetables. They find it satisfying to pick what's ripe from the garden and plan meals around their home-grown produce.
What does the narrator suggest about their future aspirations for living space?
-The narrator expresses a desire for even wider spaces, possibly a wooden cabin in a forest, indicating a continued longing for a deeper connection with nature.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Life Transition from Urban to Rural

The narrator recounts their journey from living in London to moving to a countryside apartment in a cheetah farmhouse. They reflect on the contrast between the bustling city life and the serene rural setting. The narrator, originally from Germany, had always dreamed of living in London, which they eventually did for six years. Despite the excitement of city life, they found themselves increasingly drawn to green spaces and calmness, leading to their move to Sussex. The paragraph also touches on the challenges of living in London, such as high living costs and inequality, and the narrator's experience with property guardianships.

05:01

🌱 Adjusting to Rural Life and Embracing Nature

The narrator describes the significant changes they experienced after moving to the countryside, including more space and less noise. They discuss the initial difficulties of adjusting to the lack of conveniences like supermarkets and public transport, leading to the purchase of a second-hand car. The absence of mobile reception and unreliable internet are also mentioned. Despite these challenges, the narrator finds joy in outdoor activities, growing their own food, and feeling more connected to the natural world. They express a newfound sense of creativity and inspiration, which has manifested in making videos and learning to play the guitar and write music.

10:01

🌳 Finding Belonging in Nature and a Commitment to the Environment

In this final paragraph, the narrator reflects on the sense of belonging they've found in their rural surroundings, feeling like a part of the ecosystem. They acknowledge the ecological challenges the world faces and express a strengthened resolve to contribute to environmental preservation. The narrator shares that living close to nature has been a source of happiness and personal growth, and they are beginning to yearn for an even more secluded lifestyle, possibly in a forest cabin. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to support the channel through likes, subscriptions, and Patreon, and a note of gratitude for the audience's engagement.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Countryside

The term 'countryside' refers to rural areas outside of cities, typically characterized by natural landscapes, agriculture, and a lower population density. In the video's context, it represents a significant life change for the narrator, moving from the bustling city of London to a quieter, more nature-oriented environment. The countryside is depicted as a place of calm, space, and a slower pace of life, contrasting with the urban setting.

💡Cheetah Farmhouse

A 'cheetah farmhouse' is not a standard term but seems to be a unique or affectionate name given to the narrator's new home in the countryside. It suggests a connection to nature and perhaps a quirky or charming aspect of the new living situation. The farmhouse is part of the rural setting that the video explores, emphasizing the change in lifestyle and the embrace of a more natural environment.

💡Rural Sussex

Sussex is a historic county in England, and 'rural Sussex' refers to its countryside areas. The video uses this term to specify the location of the narrator's new home, which is characterized by a peaceful, pastoral environment. The move to rural Sussex is a central theme of the video, illustrating a shift from urban to rural living and the personal reflections that come with it.

💡Property Guardianship

Property guardianship is a concept where individuals or communities are allowed to live in properties at a reduced cost, often in exchange for maintaining the property or preventing it from being vacant. In the video, the narrator mentions living in property guardianships in London, which provided affordable living with unique challenges and benefits, contrasting with the more self-sufficient lifestyle in the countryside.

💡Inequality

Inequality refers to the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, or privileges among different groups in a society. The video discusses how living affordably in London is becoming increasingly difficult due to growing inequality, which affects the accessibility of housing and contributes to the decision to move to the countryside.

💡Community Allotment

A community allotment is a shared piece of land where members of a community can grow their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers. In the video, the narrator mentions joining a community allotment in London, which is an example of seeking out green spaces and a connection to nature within an urban environment.

💡Creative Energy

Creative energy is the drive or inspiration to create, make, or produce something new and original. The video describes how moving to the countryside has allowed the narrator to feel more creative and inspired, leading to the creation of videos and learning new skills like playing the guitar and singing.

💡Ecological Destruction

Ecological destruction refers to the damage or degradation of ecosystems and the natural environment, often caused by human activities. The video touches on the narrator's heightened awareness of ecological issues after moving to the countryside, which has made them feel more connected to nature and motivated to contribute to environmental preservation.

💡Seasons

Seasons are the four periods of the year marked by distinct weather conditions, changes in the environment, and natural cycles. The video highlights the narrator's increased awareness and connection to the seasons after moving to the countryside, which has led to a deeper appreciation for the natural world and its subtle changes.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties. In the video, the narrator feels more grounded and resilient after moving to the countryside, suggesting that the change in environment has provided a sense of inner strength and the capacity to face challenges, including those related to ecological and climate concerns.

💡Patreon

Patreon is a platform that allows creators to receive financial support from their audience through monthly subscriptions. The video mentions Patreon as a way for viewers to support the narrator's creative work, indicating a desire to increase activity on the platform and engage more with the community.

Highlights

Three years ago, the narrator and Josh moved from London to a countryside farmhouse in Sussex, living in a one-room apartment.

The narrator grew up in Germany and dreamed of moving to London since a young age, captivated by its skyline, culture, and history.

After six years in London, the narrator experienced the city's different faces, from chaos and competition to hidden green spaces and waterfronts.

Living in London became increasingly unaffordable, with inequality growing and creative workarounds needed for a good life on a low or normal income.

The narrator and Josh lived in property guardianships, condemned flats with great views and neighbors but sudden problems.

Seeking more green spaces and calm, the narrator felt anxious in the city's noise and crowded areas, leading to a desire for a quieter life.

Moving to the countryside brought more space, less noise, and a slower pace of life, with fewer external forces controlling their inner pace.

Adjusting to country life had challenges, like the lack of nearby supermarkets, public transport, and reliable internet.

The narrator misses London's convenience but enjoys the creative energy and inspiration from living surrounded by nature.

In Sussex, they grow their own fruit and vegetables, and the narrator has started making videos and learning to play the guitar and sing.

Living in the countryside has made the narrator more aware of ecological destruction and climate change, feeling a responsibility to contribute to solutions.

The past three years in the countryside have been the happiest of the narrator's life, feeling a strong sense of belonging and connection to nature.

The narrator is starting to crave an even wider space, possibly a wooden cabin in a forest, for an even deeper connection with nature.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and support the channel through Patreon.