DP likes the benefits of living in/near a city. I think they are ok, but I could do with a lot less people and would prefer to live somewhere more remote or even in Duluth or further up the North Shore in MN. So, our "compromise" of the past 11 years has been to live 15 minutes, by car or bus, from downtown Minneapolis in an inner ring burb that is heavily forested, has no street lights, street parking or sidewalks and has 3 ponds on our "block" - looks more like a gerrymandered congressional district - and lots of wildlife. Yet, we are 5 minutes from a TJs. Also, the biking possibilities from our front door are amazing. We have pretty good spot. I am still hoping for the North Shore for retirement though.