Quality of Life

It was announced yesterday that considerable variety exists between the happiness of our citizens in the UK. Seemingly, those living in the country are happier than those living in the cities. As one who has lived various parts of my life in both, I can fully understand these findings.

Recently, a series of reports have highlighted the growing economic gulf between London and the rest of the UK. As long as this and subsequent governments continue to favour London, this gap will only widen. That is only the economic perspective though. The same survey which explored happiness also explored stress and anxiety. Unsurprisingly, the high earners in London were among the most stressed and anxious in our country.

There is always a price to pay. Money alone does not bring happiness. It certainly opens the doors to a more material lifestyle but it doesn't usually make for happiness. Happiness is, of course, rather difficult to measure because it is so subjective. I have said for a number of years now that even an offer of £1 million pounds per year would not persuade me back to London. To start with, it is prohibitively expensive both for a roof over your head and for day to day living expenses. More than this though is the distinct lack of cohesion. I couldn't look back and say that people were happy when I lived there because they were all too busy getting to the next job. I would rather be working to live than living to work.

One thing London does lack is head space. Granted, it does have some great public parks but unless you happen to live next to one, you are then faced with the transport system to get there. It seems as though the growth of London is basically sustaining our economy since a great deal of our national tax burden is paid by its denizens. We can't have it both ways. We need London for what it gives uf financially but it doesn't mean that we all have to go and live there.

Having returned to live in the country eighteen years ago, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else now. I do like to go back to London to visit but enjoy the moment when I have to leave for the less frantic environment of the country. The conundrum facing many is that London offers better employment opportunities at the expense of quality of life. Its a simple matter of choice.

One part of the report which was interesting was to note that Northern Ireland has become one of the happiest places to live. Although it is very rural and stunningly beautiful, its hard not to recall the troubles which beset the entire region until quite recently. It goes to show that there are always good times around the corner and I'm pleased that the folk in Ulster have weathered their storm.