What is it like to grow up Country or Rural?

Answer 1

Long Version: My Life as a Country Gal

I live in a town of a 1000 year round residents. Not many opportunities out here as far as the fast lane goes. Learn everybody's name, attend the local fair and say hi to all your farmer friends and ask how business is going, buy milk that your friends sell to, tap maple trees in the spring, grow a large garden, sell veggies, lock you car only in the late summer so that people don't put extra zucchini in it. Learn to can food. Make zucchini relish, pickles, bread, dolls...everything. Gossip is rampant...everyone knows everything. Church is an average of 20-40 people a week, primarily older. But almost everyone professes some form of Christian/Catholic religion. Don't buy the stuff at tourist shops unless you REALLY like it. Support the local businesses, cause they're good quality and they know you. Hike 45 minutes to the top of the mountain and slide down on your butt in 3 feet of snow. Give a slight wave or nod to everyone outdoors that you pass on the backroads. Learn what sweating is all about. Learn what dirty fingernails and dirt stained hands are all about. Mush dogs. Root for your best friend's brother in the horse pull or oxen show. Ski with the Ski Patrol and ski teachers cause you know almost all of them. Listen to the stories of the older locals and discover that they used to do the very same things you do. Work the same jobs. Swim the same rivers. Sled the same hills. Be annoyed by the same kind of people. Their elders used to talk the same way to them.

The pace of life in a rural setting is so much slower than urban areas. I go to cities and am sometimes overwhelmed by the constant fast pace. Walking patterns are a great example of this difference:

In the country, you just politely get out of the way of oncoming people, and they do the same for you. However, when I go to the city, I find that I have to push my way a lot more than I am naturally comfortable with. I have to grab life by the horns or get swept away in the undercurrent. You don't look everyone you pass in the eyes. You have to look confident and independent in order to thrive. It's crazy!

Everyone has guns, and almost no one is afraid of them. You get your license at 16 and compare trappings with the others in your age group. Gun shots don't bother you. If it's a loud shot, someone probably got a moose, bear, or deer. Smaller and it was probably a turkey. Or maybe a pesky animal like a ground hog in the garden or a fox or fisher cat bothering the chickens.

I'm moving to the city for college and I can't wait. But it is certainly different from rural life. I love both lifestyles, but when I get old and tire of the speed, I'll move back to the country and grow a garden and maybe a family and share my stories.

Answer 2

Depends..on how much money yer parents had. If they owned a farm or lived in a trailor. "Country" is a broad term son. When I grew up in de 'country', we had chickens, (and chicken lice), we had a family garden, (that produced enough for us to sell some excess at the local farmer's market/ flea market. We had a black and white T.V. it was boring so we spent our time outside. We grew up with common sense out of necessity, and an appreciation for nature, money, family, etc. My experience 'cause of my color is very different from others. I have worked with cows, (pretty nasty) I know how cheese, butter, and pasturized milk is made and what the differneces are. I know how to hunt, and have the common sense to take the soft organs out of my kill so that any parasites the deer or animal has won't spread. I know how to salt pork and preserve most of my food. Living in the country is wonderful if you own your own land. If you don't, it's hard. Don't believe all the hype and people saying it's all wonderful...it ain't..unless they ain't exactly poor..It has it's benefits and you do grow up with some great memories and useful knowlege, but country life ain't for everyone, and not everyone can really handle 'country' life. My 'answer' would be too long to keep typing so I'm ending it here.

Answer 3

It's peaceful and quiet. Most people in my area grown most of there food and sell the excess to the "city folk" passing through. If you hear a gun shot its not a drive-by its mostlikely someone shooting at their next dinner or a snake. The only downside to living in a rural area is it takes awhile modern technology to make it our way. While most enjoy DSL or Cable/Broadband we are usually stuck with dial up and cable TV is still out of the question here. Thank heavens for Directv. The best part of growing up country is I appreciate the things most people take for granted. I not only stop to smell the roses but I also notice the hummingbirds. People know each other and take care of their neighbors. I currently live in "Tornado Alley" and along a Hurricane corridor so knowing your neighbor is a good thing.

Answer 4

Sweeeet. There is an innocence in rural life...more contact with the elements...and with your neighbors. Northern CA is a great place to grow up rural.

Answer 5

You learn very quickly that everyone knows everything about you within 5 hours (gossip travels super quick!) but you also form close bonds with everyone around you. Finding things to do can be tricky, but never a real problem as you learn to invent your own games and all. I will say that a fav pastime of all teenagers around here is just driving around all night or going to WalMart 30 miles away.

Answer 6

Well, often you have to work on the farm and/or ranch. This involves taking care of animals, building barns, farmhouses and silos, planting and harvesting crops, and calculating how much profit you will make on livestock and the crop harvest. However if you live in the woods where farming is more difficult you will probably delegate your time to hunting, fishing, proctecting yourself from wild animals, and chopping wood to store and burn in the winter.

Answer 7

More stimuli in rural settings; more opportunities.

Answer 8

Great. But you do have to get along with everyone...

Answer 9

no idea....but i think it wud make a person more self sufficient n satisfied