Any views about escaping the rat race and moving to the country?

Question

I have lived in a metropolitan area most of my life and I am sick of the traffic, the struggle to pay a higher cost of living, the wear and tear on me and my car. But I am also afraid that I would get bored silly and/or not be able to support myself if I move an hour out into the country. I am resourceful and frugal so luxuries aren't important to me. Anyone done it and never looked back?

P.S. - My kid is grown and out of the house and I will be able to work from home with a computer. I also think I could be a good enough gardener to raise at least some of my own food.

Answer 1

for your original question, i grew up in the country then moved to the city for college and if my finances ever get better and I have some kids, the first place I'm going is BACK to the country, it's peacful, you have space and don't have to worry so much about privacy

I think you are a good canidate for it, since you seem like you don't have to be "entertained" at all times, I say fine some nice place about 45 mins tops from a bigger city and dig in for some peace

Answer 2

I'd like to say that I have. Unfortunately, I am now living in a place that I suppose could be called the 'country' (it's more like the shore), and I MISS MISS MISS being able to get in my car and go somewhere, anywhere, whenever I want. I'm a 45+ minute drive away from every family member and friend I have. If you like solitude and wouldn't mind an extra drive, or things closing at 8 or 9pm, or just not being able to go somewhere that you really enjoyed (Borders for me), I say go for it! I am bored stiff, miss the simple availability, even if I don't want to go, of restaurants, bars, stores, etc...If you can manage without creature comforts and don't mind making grocery shopping a day trip, then do it. I, on the other hand, am looking for a new home closer to the action. In my experience, you don't really know what you've got until it's gone. Good luck! I hope this point of view helps!

Answer 3

Yep. I did that. My personal motive for moving into the West Virginia hills was to work for Dr. William Pierce's National Alliance (as a volunteer book editor). But that only determined my particular new locale - I was already determined to get into a very rural area in order to build my homestead "lifeboat" to survive the apocalyptic end of the fossil fuel era. I knew that I had to act early because it takes time (several years) to learn to live without money, by eating what you can grow or barter for.

I'm growing an apple & walnut orchard, a garden of potatoes and sunchokes, and I raise goats. I have several hundred pounds of wheat, and several hundred more pounds of rice & beans socked away. My water comes from rain into a network of rainbarrels and an underground cistern. I burn about three cords of firewood each winter, which I'd collected the previous spring and summer.

My favorite form of entertainment has always been science fiction and fantasy stories, and over the past two or three years I've accumulated about 1700 books, kept neatly packed in author alphabetical order in 18 large rubbermaid storage tubs.

For exercise, I walk. The hills of West Virginia are very pretty. Sometimes I play my clarinet on my front porch. It echoes off the hills, and somebody standing about 50 feet behind me gets a very curious ampitheater effect from the way the echoes return. Or so my brother has said. I don't hear it myself because I'm too close to the source of the sound.

Answer 4

You are gonna be unhappy in Petticoat Junction, becaused the boys at the county courthouse are crooks! They protect each other.

The locals are shockingy rude to the other locals. You'll wind up making friends with others who have moved in and cling to each other like ticks on a cold day.

The idea of the tiny wages and trying to raise kids on that puny money will drive you crazy.

Stay in the big city until you've got enough money or retirement benefits to live comfortably, and THEN jump out of the frying pan.

Answer 5

LOL firstly you will be amazed at how noisy birds are in the morning. I have never regretted the move but it does come with its own set of problems. It is a long drive to vital services such as doctors. You will still need to drive alot probably more. Boredom never comes into it, it is a change of lifestyle not the end of life.

Answer 6

I reduced my commute 80% for those reasons, but still live in the same place. I make less money, but am happier. And actually spend less.