Country Living vs City Living

I was in a hurry to get to the one and only ATM machine in town before it went out of service which most of the time it does. So i hurried in my creased batik kaftan, face without even a hint of lipstick, hair flying out of nowhere. I dont know what happend to me in the last weeks but small town living had done something to my sense of dressing. Life has suddenly slowed down and i had let myself go. I really thought i could make the small escape without getting noticed. As i rushed out i hoped i wont bump into anyone. And you know how it is that things happen when you dont want it to happen.

I heard my name being called from across the street. I recognised her immediately, my old classmate i havent met for 20 years. She hurried across the street and i notice how immaculately dressed she was and i felt my heart sink. There goes my making any impression at all.... After spending 10 minutes chatting with her, i hurried back into the car and thought i'd deliver the papayas my mother asked me to pass on to her market friend.

No sooner i got down, someone strangely familiar smiled at me but for the heck of it i cant figure out who it was but she asked me, "Aren't you so and so's grandaughter?" Oh God. I knew wat was coming next.
"You married?" Yes.
"How many kids?" One.
"Haiya, one not enough, must have pair at least."
"Where husband work?" Outstation.
"Why so far?" Just. (Note: Monosyllables dont put off curious hometown folks)
"So where you work?" At home.
"Ooo... "(Face shows mixed emotions then recovers fast)
"..Good la, be with mother in old age. " Yes.
"Where are you going?" Market(though we are standing inside the market together).

Ah, dont you ever miss the city... I had once lived 3 years with neighbours i didn't even say 'hi' to. It suited my anti social tendencies. Nobody noticed or at least pretended not to notice and no one actually bothered what the I did.

But step into the country or better your hometown, suddenly you find all the extended families and this neighbour's kid's friend's auntie stopping you in the middle of the 'pasar malam' and asking you, "So what did you cook today?" And after 20 years in city, you tend to have developed that protective mechanism defensiveness that makes your brain go suspiciously , "Huh? Who are you? What you want from me?"

So there you have it. Your privacy goes off with the cold hilly wind and you better turn on your best behaviour cause you are being watched from all nooks and corners of the neighbourhood. It can get kinda tiring sometimes but in a way it is nice to have people who care.

While the private city life, can be quite cold and uncaring sometimes but you have plenty of space to breathe. You get that carefree feeling.

A nice balance of the two would be ideal, right? Yea, rite.