#how on earth did Raven Rock end up here over Ivarstead

[animezinglife]

I go back and forth between Riverwood and Whiterun.

Riverwood's quiet, beautiful, and a short/pretty safe walk by Skyrim standards to Whiterun. You kind of get the best of both: you have decent ground to farm, are on a water source, and have both fish and plenty of options for hunters to bring in other meats like venison and rabbit. You have a lumber mill, a blacksmith, a trader, a cozy inn, and a few good families to live alongside.

You even have some petty small-town drama because the three single people living there make up the world's most childish love triangle.

You could also have a whopping two potentially eligible bachelors if you're a young woman in town in either Ralof or Hadvar, which is two more than you usually get in most cities in the real world.

That said, I would definitely never be opposed to living in Breezehome. Adrienne and Ulfberth would be great neighbors, you have decent security with the walls, guards, and guild of werewolves (thus, very little thieves guild problem and no real vampire problem) just around the corner, and a temple full of healers.

The screaming preacher is arguably of a much higher quality than what you get in the real world, too. At least this one believes what he's yelling about and genuinely isn't there to fight anyone. He's just really passionate about Talos and I can respect that.

Riverwood and Whiterun are where it's at, and Jarl Balgruuf is objectively one of the better jarls.