This morning, over a quiet breakfast and coffee in a local cafe, I found myself reflecting on a question a school friend asked me earlier: why don’t I show up to community events anymore?
It got me thinking. The honest answer is simple: my priorities have changed. Since I left London and moved to a small town—Milton Keynes—I’ve started to enjoy different things. Solitude. Quiet walks in the countryside. Cycling through tree-lined paths. Unhurried mornings in cafes where people aren’t constantly rushing. Life feels softer here, and I’ve come to cherish that.
In many ways, Milton Keynes reminds me of my hometown in India. I grew up in one of those government-built new estates in the 90s. They were called "colonies" and were so well planned. Each house had a unique address. There were designated spaces for schools, clinics, and playgrounds. Roads were laid out with a logic that made life easy to navigate. Not everything got built, of course—some parks or clinics remained ideas on paper—but the vision was there. That early experience of living in a thoughtfully designed community must have left a mark on me. Because when I arrived in Milton Keynes, something clicked. It felt familiar.
The contrast with my years in mega cities is stark. I spent four years in Bangalore, two in Singapore, and three in London. And while each of these places had their charms and opportunities, I never really felt at home in any of them. In Bangalore and London, I felt like I was living in my car—so much of my day disappeared in traffic. In Singapore, the public transport is world-class, and the people are incredibly civic-minded, but the packed buses and trains drained me. I’m not built for crowded, bustling places. I constantly longed for an escape route.
Milton Keynes gave me that escape. It gave me space to breathe.
Some say MK is a car-centric city. That’s true to an extent, but I see it differently. There is public transport when you need it, taxis are affordable, and for the rare times my car isn’t available, I still get around. But the city is also one of the most bike-friendly places I’ve seen. Dedicated cycling lanes run through the entire city. In the summer, cycling becomes a joy. It’s not just about getting from one place to another—it’s about enjoying the ride.
Driving, too, is a pleasure here. There are plenty of parking spaces, higher speed limits on city roads, and fewer traffic lights. Pedestrian crossings are rare because pedestrians have their own separate routes. Unlike most of England, you don’t stress about parking in Milton Keynes. For someone who enjoys being behind the wheel, it’s a dream.
And it’s not like I’ve sacrificed convenience. That’s the beauty of MK. One of the challenges with smaller towns is that you often have to drive out for the basics. But here, I have everything I need. Cinemas, IKEA, big-brand stores, foreign groceries, showrooms and service centres for every major car brand, and two huge shopping centres. Even Luton Airport is just 30 minutes away.
Milton Keynes has struck a rare balance. It offers the calm of a small town with the practicality of a city. And in that balance, I’ve found something that feels more valuable with each passing year: peace.
I may not show up at every community event these days. But I’m showing up for myself—in a way I never quite managed to in the bigger cities. And that, for me, is everything.