I live and work in a city; It's not a bad city as it has a relatively small population of only about a million people or so, and that's in the greater area, not just the city; Definitely not a metropolis. It's still far too congested for me though; Too many people and too much noise. Still it's where I have to be right now due to work commitments. My work takes place inside a building generally although I am fortunate enough to be able to come and go as I please and pretty much set my own hours. I'm lucky I suppose and I like my job...However...
I don't really feel alive when I'm working. Well, more to the point, I don't feel like I'm living my life. I am in the position of having to work to sustain my life and so going to work is a necessity rather than a choice at the moment however I work hard at making my life count away from work, not at work. I'm pretty focused when at work and seem quite able to achieve results commensurate with my efforts and of course there's a certain feeling of reward or satisfaction in a job well done however it's when I am away from work when my life truly comes to life and so I work hard to make my life count in the areas that are most important.
As someone who loves the outdoors and has many hobbies around that I find I'm often in the countryside and always marvel at the way my shoulders drop and I relax when I see fields, lakes, forest or scrub land around me as I drive into the country. I'm not sure if fresh air releases feel good endorphins in the brain or something but for me I feel...Well, more alive. I follow a steemit user 
It's been three weeks since I have been out to the [large] cattle farm where I cull (usually weekly) and I really miss it. Being Autumn now it's pretty much dark by 6pm but I still usually go and stay out there until about 9pm walking around culling. It can be a little spooky of course but the solitude and silence (except for nature sounds, and the occasional gunfire) seems to recharge and centre me I guess. Sunrises and sunsets tend to amaze me as well and out on the farm, in the hills, I almost get the feeling they are there just for me. I'm lucky to have this location so close to where I live and of course the permission to access it.
I wonder sometimes if other people feel the same way as I do and what health benefits, if any, a trip to the country can have on a person. For me it means a great deal to get out into the countryside, to breathe some fresh clean air and listen to the sounds of the planet rather than the sounds of people.
[- Design and create your ideal life, don’t live it by default -]