The Roman Empire - not as glam as it appears?

Every nation/empire has its vices, but if you were to be living in the early ADs (now called the CE(Common Era)) where would you want to live? In one of the greatest Empires ever or as a barbarian? I would choose to live in the civilized Roman Empire that to be a barbarian. Animal sacrifice was a common practice for many religions at the time too. So you have to take in account what was socially exceptable at the time.