katemodern's Profile

I grew up in the suburbs of LA. LA is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and I always felt as a kid that it I was missing it, living in the suburbs. The lack of public transport in LA was maddening and I felt that everything I loved about LA was completely inaccessible without a car - I didn't like that dependency.

I've lived in Wellington, New Zealand for a year, and also Paris for a year, and now I live in London. London has it all to me, the beautiful and diverse architecture, the history, the arts culture, the global outlook, the nightlife, great food (yes, really), public transport, a huge variety of green spaces, but most of all I love Londoners - you never know who you'll meet. London to me means independence and opportunity and I feel very lucky to be living here.

There are definitely benefits that I see for a more rural life - the pressure of getting on the property ladder in a city like London is enormous and there are downsides like crime, pollution, prices, living in a teeny apartment, etc. I miss having a backyard and a dog. It would be especially nice nice not to spend half of my income on rent. I toy with the idea of moving out and at times feel very divided over it, but I think big cities London, New York, Berlin etc are worth fighting for. I am absolutely an urban person and wouldn't have it any other way!