I was born and raised a city girl... I've lived in the country for the last almost 50 years ( give or take a few years working abroad..or in Forces married quarters)... the city will always be in my blood.. and I agree with the sentiment that as we age we need to be closer to a city or large town where facilities are available as we age that might not necessarily be required when we're younger..
Altho' I live just 20 miles from the great Metropolis..London... ( closer if we're talking just North London).. it's actually not easy to get there when we get older..
To get into central London by car can take anything up to 3 hours depending on the time of day and the traffic levels which are appallingly high at most times of the day and days of the week but certainly it will take at least and hour and a half on a good day... ...
... by train is easier.. but it also means a change of train after a 40 minute journey to tube.. more than one tube sometimes ( most times).. to get to the destination of a hospital or clinic depending on which side of the city we need to be.. .. and these changes necessitate long tunnel walks at exits to reach the outside..( Tube stations in London are in the bowels of the earth) and sometimes as many as 4 sets of escalators to connect to each station.. for interchanging tubes....which is exhausting for those of seniors who are relatively fit, and almost impossible for those older..
..not to mention the crowds..
this is why it would be much more convenient to live in the city itself.. for choice there is abundant ways to travel across the city, including buses every few minutes..
However.. the drawback is at least 2 fold.. and that is the high level of crime... and the sheer expense of living in the city...