All of the cities you mentioned, besides NYC, are largely car dependent for their main mode of transportation.

What counties in the US don’t have a single family zoning? Your lifestyle is mandatory.

It is very unlikely that your rural area exists without subsidies from the state/nearest city. Who’s paying for the roads? The power lines? Water? The healthcare system you drive to? I am sure it isn’t you.

You could build just a little more dense, your kids could bike two miles one way to school, and everyone would be healthier for it.

You would probably see more people in your day to day. It would be okay.

And for the record, I have lived in Europe. There were no lines for anything in town. The kids were healthier, less obese, and the rate of kids dying by car was practically non-existent. As opposed to disgustingly common.