When choosing between comfortable living conditions or an intellectual environment, its hard to live a balanced life without both. However if I had to choose one I think I would choose an intellectual environment because that way you have the intelligence to be able to get somewhere in your life and do something useful with it. There are plenty of people who live comfortably and get everything handed to them yet don't know how to take care of themselves or how to make wise decisions. Therefore, although it would be tough to live uncomfortably I think it would be better than not knowing how to take care of yourself and living hopelessly and lazily on the couch all day.