Where would you prefer to live: Mountain or Ocean?

[Andrew Brunelle]

Ideally, I'd like to live on a mountain near an ocean so even if there was a tidal wave, it wouldn't reach me, mostly because I'd be up too high. I'd like to live in the woods, too, but there aren't any supermarkets around. If there were, the woods would be an ideal place to live, as long as I had some sort of running water (a brook, stream, small waterfall).

[BlueCrane]

Originally Posted by travelhappy

There's a place called Kaikoura in New Zealand on the South Island. It's a small town - population 2000 or so - that sits right on the ocean and is surrounded by a ring of snow capped mountains. On a clear day it is one of the most stunning places you could ever hope to see. Turn one way and you've got the mountains... turn the other and you've got the sea!

About a mile off shore, the ocean plunges down around 1800 feet into a huge underwater cravasse. The depth here means that lots of sperm whales and humpback whales pass through and it's relatively easy to jump on a tour boat and go out and see them - one of my happiest days travelling in New Zealand.

I'd choose ocean over mountains any time I think, but I love diving and dislike oxygen deprivation at height, so I guess I'm biased

We've been living on a mountain slope overlooking the sea near Cape Town for almost 10 years now - and it's breathtaking to watch the whales in season, like now, and hear them at night.

But we'll move to Austria later this month so I guess we've made our choice - I'll miss the sea. There must be a reason that 70% of the world population lives at the coast. A lot more in Australia.

[Shaden]

I'd prefer to live on a mountain quite simply because it would be far more interesting!! It would take years to explore a mountain fully. Their would be lots of fun and adventure and of course breath-taking views. There would also be solitude with the mountain option - a plus in my book of references

[mister_mojorisin]

Hi All,

A log cabin in the woods is my goal. It has always been my dream, unfortunately it's been a dream that I shelved too many times. Thanks to the words that I have read on this site, I have fully embraced the goal.

Using the advice I have garnered from Steve, I have taken three passions and combined them to reach my goal. I am an avid backyard bird watcher, I enjoy working with different computer technologies and have always wanted a means of making my own money.

So what I have done is create a website dedicated to backyard bird watching. I am creating and maintaining the site myself.

Because I have the image in my mind of doing all of this while sitting in a log cabin overlooking a lake, has flooded my brain with new ideas for my website. I have never been a big fan of personal development, always thought it was hogwash....lol, but putting into effect some of the advice I have gleaned from Steve, I can now see the power of the sub-conscious mind.

As a budding entrepreneur, I invite you to visit my site and help me fulfill my dream. I must warn you it is work in progress and I will be adding new content on a consistent basis. One idea I am currently working on is having free online bird watching tutorials, so keep coming back and I promise quality birding content.

Any other bird watchers out there?

To sum up give me a mountain over an ocean any day!

[Erki]

Originally Posted by Amit

Michael...I know it's a bit weird...but for some reason when I was a kid I had an intense fear of drowning. Over time, that fear passed and now, to me, I don't fear it at all, it's strange but I just feel like it would a peaceful way to go!

When I was little, I also had a fear of water. When other people were looking forward to going to somewhere lakeside and swim, I was like...feared. I never felt comfortable in shower or bath either... I loved warm rain showers in summer though. Nowadays it's all OK and I think I can even swim..whee..!

I have always lived somewhere that has water around. There's a river going through the town I live in and I've lived in a place in countryside that has 4 lakes that are quite near.

I saw someone already mentioned mountain lake. I would second that.

[ava]

I must have both!

That's why Vancouver is so beautiful... I don't know if I could live in a big city without the natural beauty of the mountains, ocean and trees that we have here.

[SamBeaven]

Mountains. I like drama in my scenery - drama with a hint of permanence (at least in human terms, anyway). And I've always felt they were prettier.

[Alban]

Ocean for me. I love the ocean. Wether it is summer or winter, I love to go surfing. It is so energising, fun, wonderful.
My parents house is near the ocean, but now I am studying in a city 3hours from there. I miss it. Everytime I can, I go back to my parents home because i NEED to see the ocean and go surfing. I love so much being near the ocean.

[Brutha]

Ocean the temperatur fluctuates less.

[Mused]

Being from the NW I have both. For the sake of this poll I'm going with mountains. Mountains with a nice forest, various lakes, rivers, streams, wildlife to play around with. Oh and while I'm at it I'd like to throw in a log cabin.

I'm wondering if most people think of "ocean" as a nice warm tropical vacation spot full of clean sand and clear blue water... as opposed to a chilly, smelly place you don't want to run around barefoot for fear of stepping on something slimy or sharp. Whoops did I just let out the fact that I'm not a fan of the ocean?

I've never been a big ocean fan tropical or not. Just too flat and bland for me.

[Mused]

Originally Posted by Amit

Michael...I know it's a bit weird...but for some reason when I was a kid I had an intense fear of drowning. Over time, that fear passed and now, to me, I don't fear it at all, it's strange but I just feel like it would a peaceful way to go!

Amit, I agree with you. When I was 12 I almost drowned in a whitewater rafting accident (and yes I still love the mountains that contained that very river). After the initial shock of being thrown from the raft and lodged under a log, being under the water didn't seem to upset me. It WAS actually quite peaceful. Breathing the cool water, how the water looked and sounded as it flowed around me everything slowed down. Below the water was so calm compared to above the surface where it was crashing about wildly on the rocks. It was so peaceful that I forgot temporarily that I would probably die if I didn't try to get out of the water and made no attempt to struggle for my life. Of all things, what actually got me moving again was the thought of how mad my dad would be at his friends that took me rafting if I did drown. At the time being under the water certainly seemed nicer than throwing it up and coughing it out once I was yanked out of the water.

[timmymayes]

Why can't you have both. At my last job as a dispatcher I spoke with a guy in Canada who loved the place there was a snow peaked mountain for biking and sking and at ground level on the same day it would be nice enough to go swimming on the beach.

Cheers,
Timothy

[daringd]

Greedy me .... I really want both. Haha ... but I vote for mountain because I always love the green, the fresh air and the pure O2.

The sea, how can you not fall in love with the sound of the waves. And the best thing is when it's full moon, stroll along the beach with naked feet. Awesome.

Since I'm so greedy, I've decided to retire in Bali :-) and ultimately, I'd like to die there. Convert myself (when my body's dead) to ashes, spread some to the ocean and some to the mountain. Like that I've the best of both worlds

[Trina]

I chose the ocean based on temperature alone. I have lived int he mountains for the last few years, and as gorgeous as they are, I am TIRED of the snow. LOL.

[Amit]

Hehehe some interesting arguments so far although the poll suggests that the Ocean is still in the lead!

It truly is a tough one to choose and still, even now, faced with a choice, I would find it extremely tough!

[skydust]

id like to live by the ocean on a mountain

[Amit]

LOL you're all cheaters!

[Michael Chui]

Oh yeah? Well, all landmasses are mountains, whether near or far from an ocean. So there. Victory by default.

[joelyle]

I want it ALL!

Tall mountain/hill next to the ocean; like central coast of California (Pebble Beach, etc).

Peace

[Markus74]

That's a difficult question.

I'd go to a mountain with ocean view!

[Ann]

I grew up living near the ocean/mountains, so I can't choose one over the other.

I prefer living in a city where there's a combination of both landscapes like New Zealand, Barcelona, outside Dublin city

[viola]

Originally Posted by travelhappy

There's a place called Kaikoura in New Zealand on the South Island. It's a small town - population 2000 or so - that sits right on the ocean and is surrounded by a ring of snow capped mountains. On a clear day it is one of the most stunning places you could ever hope to see. Turn one way and you've got the mountains... turn the other and you've got the sea!

About a mile off shore, the ocean plunges down around 1800 feet into a huge underwater cravasse. The depth here means that lots of sperm whales and humpback whales pass through and it's relatively easy to jump on a tour boat and go out and see them - one of my happiest days travelling in New Zealand.

I'd choose ocean over mountains any time I think, but I love diving and dislike oxygen deprivation at height, so I guess I'm biased

That sounds like my kind of place....