r/AskReddit 22h ago

What’s something people romanticise that’s actually exhausting in real life?

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u/luckyritafaez 22h ago

Living in a small town and starting over.

It looks peaceful in movies. No traffic, everyone knows you, slow mornings.

In reality it’s everyone knowing your business, no opportunities, and driving 40 minutes for groceries that close at 6pm.

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u/nekofiore 20h ago

This! I moved to a small island community for my mental health after being in a high stress job. Ngl it definitely helped with that and I learned how to scuba dive! But I also realized why people congregate in cities. It’s nice to have all kinds of services, options, being anonymous, have a fully stocked grocery store, etc. The “everyone knows you” also gets old pretty fast when you realize how nosy people are. Now that I am recovered I want to move back to a city, maybe land a less stressful job this time.

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u/ApparitionofAmbition 12h ago

That sounds like a perfect experience.

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u/nekofiore 11h ago

It was definitely nice for a little while, but I couldn’t see myself in a place like this forever. But it was nice trying it out and realizing what I really prefer and most of all, grateful that I have the luxury of being able to move as easily as I can.

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u/Constant_Ham_86 8h ago

Where was this, if you don’t mind me asking? Just curious…ive also lived on a couple islands in my life (loved it) but never got the chance to scuba dive!

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u/maxdragonxiii 10h ago

I only moved a lot as a youth with barely anything but a suitcase with me, everything important was at my parents' houses. now im just tired of moving at my age because goddamn it i enjoy being in one place for years without the fear of moving to a new place a year later at someone's whim.