Ten Things to Love About Rural Living
After living for a long time in urban and suburban environments, I am now living a rural lifestyle.
Is this for everybody?
Maybe not.
But I sure do enjoy living 52 weeks a year in a place where I used to vacation for 2 weeks a year.
Here are some of the top reasons why I love rural living.
1. I don’t have to spend 10% of each day commuting. For years I did it in the morning, and then I did it at night, and I repeated the cycle five days a week. What a waste of time, energy, and emotional well-being. Nowadays, my vehicle of choice is a tractor and there’s hardly any traffic!
2. I am happy when I wake up. I don’t dread a new day. Each day is a new one full of adventure, projects and challenges. The old routine called the “daily grind” is history.
3. I live in a safe environment. I leave my keys in my truck. My house is unlocked. My dogs are the best doorbell I’ve ever had!
4. I know the history of much of my food nowadays. No more worry about food scares and where my food is coming from. My food doesn’t have unknown additives, hormones, enhancers, and other stuff that just isn’t good for you. I will live a longer life than if I had stayed in the city. My food has flavor, too. Just try one of my tomatoes and compare it to one from a supermarket. Mine has flavor…
5. Things are growing all around me. I am surrounded by real life—living things. I can look at my garden and watch my own livestock from my kitchen window. On my way into town one day, I saw literally hundreds of deer and wild turkeys. I really enjoy watching the eagles soaring above me as I work on my property.
6. My kids are learning about life. They know where their food is coming from, and they are responsible for some of that. They are able to follow their desires and passions, whether it is growing food, flowers, or animals. Their world is unlimited. They run around and play and I don’t have to worry. They have become much more self-sufficient and confident. They are no longer addicted to the DS, text messaging, or video games.
7. My family is somewhat protected from potential issues in the future. All is not well in the economic, political and global environments. Unemployment, home foreclosures, civil unrest… are things really getting better? No. The civil consequences of all of this will be hitting the urban areas much more than the rural areas.
8. I can be out hunting in five minutes. I can be catching a fish in thirty minutes. Couldn’t do that in my suburban neighborhood.
9. I know my neighbors. They are ready to help me with a phone call and when we pass on the road, they always make time to stop and say hello. In my last neighborhood, I barely knew or even saw my neighbors.
And the top reason I love rural living:
10. My family lives here too!
This is a compilation of several people’s favorite things about rural living.
What are some of yours?
This post was shared at Little House in the Suburbs DIY Friday, Rural Thursdays, Simple Lives Thursday, The Morristribe’s Homesteader Blog Carnival, Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop
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For me, it is being humbled daily by the glory of nature and the landscape which surrounds me. To watch the weather change, minute by minute, the closeness to the nature which chooses to visit us and share our lives, and the lack of traffic, sirens, and clatter of urban living.
I have an art gallery in Snowdonia, Wales, with 210 degree mountain views, and every second is one of sheer joy when I’m out amongst it taking photos or working with those around me.
Graeme, you must be surrounded by inspiration in every view from your gallery! Your photos are beautiful–I’ll have to go back to your website and spend some time looking through the galleries. Thanks for joining us!
As a native of Chicago who never thought about leaving the big city, I am happy the Lord led me away. I left big city living in 2005, and not looking back. I spent 5 yrs in W. TN where we had 15 1/2 acres and could not see a house from our porch. In 2010 we moved to Louisiana and have an acre, I can see the neighbors, and they can see me too close. While everyone gets along I prefer more space, love country living. The biggest thing I love is not having to deal with neighbors attitudes.
Followed you here from the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop.
Joyce recently posted..Eden Salve
Joyce, thanks for stopping by! We moved here from a home where we could talk to our neighbors from our respective back decks without shouting. Now we can’t see another house from our porches. Quite a difference!
I like the quiet. And I like that people you don’t even know will wave as you go by.
Have a blessed weekend. ♥
Ditto to both the quiet and the friendly people, Linda. You have a lovely weekend too!
A great post — lots of things to love about living the country life. You named several of my favorites! xo
Nancy recently posted..Let it rain.
Nice to see you, Nancy! There sure is lots to love about country life. Your photos for example!
Oh yes these are the reasons I live in the country and will continue to do so till I no longer live. The biggest one being the “neighbour” family outside your house you create. Great reasons. B
Buttons recently posted..Real Life and Pretending!
Buttons, it is really interesting how family-like a rural neighborhood can be even with only a few houses on a mile-long road. People offer help and experienced advice, and ask for help when they need it.
I have recently realized that I had gotten ‘use’ to my rural surroundings. After visiting family in a large town, I could not wait until I got home. Even became ‘closed in on’ in town. I have been very fortunate to live very rural for 25 years. I couldn’t go back..thanks for a great post.
We know the feeling, Jonni…we dread driving in heavy traffic anymore! And that used to be part of our daily grind. Now our daily grind is the coffee we have in the morning while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature all around us.