Some people are conflicted with where the most optimal place is to live. Even though cities are often polluted and dirty, they also have some great elements. We often take for granted where we live.

A lot of people grow up and never leave their hometown. Some of us are curious to know what's around the river bend, what's outside the city limits or what exists over the bridge. Many of us are curious to know what else is out there in the world and how people live in other places and communities. Learning about how other people live is a personal life lesson for most of us.

We learn how other people live and by that we decide what we thinks works and doesn't work for our lifestyle. The city offers certain thing that the country cannot offer. The city offers culture. Many cities have museums, theaters, art galleries, and cultural festivals. Many of these festivals celebrate music, dance, performing arts and food from different regions of the world.

Cities often are more progressive than small towns. For example, many large North American cities recycle and compost but a lot of smaller communities do not. They may on a limited scale but often they don't have the resources or the money to start large recycling programs. Many smaller communities cannot recycle a lot of materials because their facilities cannot accommodate them.

Many large cities are more tolerant to difference than smaller towns that are often a monoculture. For example, in most large Canadian cities, different cultures live side by side. Sadly, in some parts of the United States, many people are taught from a young age to be fearful of the unknown. Many people who don't know about different cultures are not very interested in learning more about them. This is unfortunate because if we want to live in peace with our neighbors, the first step is tolerance.

Regardless of how people live in cities, at least there is a large variety of people who come from all walks of life. Diversity in cities is what makes life interesting. The downside to city life is that there are way too many cars and people in your face everyday. Most of us need to escape the city to live a balanced life. The air is often polluted and there isn't a lot of green space to enjoy in a lot of cities. When there are pretty parks, they are often packed on hot, sunny days. Try having a picnic on a gorgeous long-weekend without having people surround you. It's unlikely unless you know a secret spot.

The other terrific element of city life is you can easily make a statement. There will always be people to support your cause. If you want to be an activist in any way, the city is a terrific place to start. There are all kinds of groups you can join. You can even start your own grassroots group or movement. There are so many different people that you will eventually gain members.