by Volecia Plafcan

Created on: October 25, 2009   Last Updated: October 27, 2009

City life is indeed different from country living but, I've decided, there is always the city to live in and the country to run to once you need a rest.

I like all the hustle and bustle of the city. We were in Chicago for three months during the winter. I wanted to go back south as soon as we got there. I'm thankful we didn't now for it gave me a chance to see how the upper part of the U. S. lives.

Although we froze our butts off for not having the proper clothing, it was just still amazing watching the other people walk all bundled up like bales of hay. However, that has nothing to do with city living everywhere but, it was different.

Christmas there was a picture postcard. The apartments with steps that led down to the sidewalks were ones I'd only seen on TV or movies. Walking to the store, whereas down south we would drive, was a pleasure. Our car stayed under ice the whole time we were there and we would not dare drive. My in-laws drove us wherever we wanted to go, rather, wherever they wanted to take us.

Our plan was to stay and find work there but, my husband was in construction and it didn't work out, mainly because of the weather. So, we hightailed it back south.

During my early single years, living in Houston was fun. Working, having roommates, going out at night with them or maybe going out with a guy to a movie - our lives were full of constant entertainment.

My roommates and I worked at the same place, so we carpooled. We were constantly together and our whole company was like one big family. Our apartment wasn't near downtown and we worked not far from where we lived so we more or less stayed in our own little area.

Twice, there were occasions to go downtown - once for a job interview and another time in the five o'clock traffic that took us to a freeway we needed to be on to get out of town. Idiot me! Landing in the wrong lane, a policeman yelled at me that I couldn't be in that lane. How I got out of there so fast, I don't know. Good grief! There must have been ten lanes going in the same direction just like in Chicago. Talk about sweating - I must have lost ten pounds in those few seconds. He must have too for his face was a deep red. He did look like he was coming over to tear my throat out.

On the weekends, though, we would pack my car up and head for Bandera, a resort, one of the girls' houses, or Galveston where we would spend the day on the beach. Other times, we would go to my mother's in the east via New Orleans, Biloxi and Florida- they had never been there.

Oh, there was plenty to do in Houston besides work and I really enjoyed living there, too. The people were nice, I felt secure there, and my roomies and I remained friends long after I was married.

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