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People dream of being in the countryside, by the sea or in some other remote place when they retire. If you’ve been living and working in a city for your whole life, you may feel desperate to escape the rat race. In fact, you are likely to appreciate retiring in a city more than you may have imagined. Here’s why.

You’ll Have Time to Enjoy It

Many people heading towards retirement age are tired of the city because they have been commuting around and living in a city for years. You’ve probably never had much of a chance to enjoy all the other things a city has to offer aside from work. Cities are incredible hubs for entertainment, cultural pursuits, food and drink. You can pick something wildly different to do each and every day if you like. Go to the theatre, try a singing class, see if you like rooftop yoga, and pick a different restaurant or café to try out every week.

If you move to the countryside or to a quieter town, your choice of things to do will be a lot more limited. If you live in a city now and want to experience a new one, that is a good option too. There are numerous cities in the United States that may fit the bill, such as the retirement communities Columbus Ohio.

It’s Practical

Another thing that many people don’t consider with their ‘retirement in nature’ dream is that it might not be a very practical option as they get older. As you age, you are likely to have more medical appointments, and you may not feel comfortable driving longer distances. If you live in a city, you’ll be able to find everything you need within close proximity, and public transportation systems are better too. If you need to visit a specific shop, send something in the mail or go to your bank, you’re likely to find all these services very close by.

A lot of amenities will be within walking distance as well, which can be liberating if you feel like you’ve been driving from A to B in a car for your whole life. And walking is an excellent way of keeping a base level of physical fitness. It’s also worth considering that urban areas tend to get more investment than more remote areas, as they have to provide services to more people. This means that things like the quality of the surfaces on footpaths are likely to be better here than in rural regions.

Support Network

If you want to have a lively social life and make new friends, you’ll also come across plenty of people in a city. Particularly if you have a specific hobby or interest, cities are great for finding likeminded people. Cities are extremely diverse by nature, so you’ll be able to find a club, society or class for any topic you could think of, whether you want to join a choir, learn a new skill or discuss art history at an art gallery.

Sometimes volunteering can be a good way to meet new people and to do something you feel good about doing. Many people have always had the desire to do some volunteering, but don’t find the time to commit until they retire. It can help make the transition into retirement a little easier too, as you will establish a new routine to accommodate your volunteering commitments. Cities offer an abundance of volunteering opportunities, so you will be able to find something that is just right for your passions and skills.

Cities are generally better connected as well – both in terms of travel accessibility, internet speeds and virtual networks. This will make it easier for you to stay in touch with people and for your friends and family to come and visit you too.

Green Space

Most cities have wonderful and wide areas of green space, so you really can get the best of both worlds if you choose to retire to the city instead of the countryside. It’s good to keep mentally and physically active when you retire, and this can be one reason why people want to retire to the countryside or the coast. But cities tend to put a lot of focus on investing in their green spaces, making them incredible places to discover. You’ll find there are better amenities in the green spaces in cities too, such as plentiful benches, restroom facilities and cafés.

Many cultural events are also hosted in public parks during the warmer months, meaning there is often something new and interesting to experience. Exercise classes for all different ages and abilities are often hosted in green spaces too, making it easy for you to try new activities if you want to. You may even find a group of similarly-minded friends to go for a walk with around the local park a couple of times a week.