Country vs City Living

[Fishindude77]

I live pretty rural and wouldn't live in town for anything. Seems like the popular dream around my neck of the woods is to get a place in the country with a few acres so you can have peace and quiet, a big area for the kids to run around in, maybe get a four wheeler, pets, possibly a horse, have a garden, etc.

This is all well and good, but I see a lot of folks making this move that obviously didn't know what they were getting into. Country living costs a whole lot more, and you have a whole lot more work to do. You need an expensive mower, tools and equipment to mow and care for your grounds, something to plow snow with, etc. You will be on a well and septic and if those go bad it gets expensive. You may not have natural gas so heat costs will be higher. You'll have a driveway to maintain. Likely no cable, so will need expensive satellite for TV and internet. You'll burn more gas running to work, and may beat up a car more on crummy roads. taxes could be considerably higher. And these are just some of the obvious things.

In addition, these bigger properties require a whole bunch more hands on time just keeping them up and looking good. In town you might mow in 20 minutes. In the country you may spend all weekend on the lawn and grounds.

Myself and many like the extra work and consider it therapy. Many are unprepared for it, get their dream country home and soon find out it's way more than they can handle or afford, and it is soon in a state of disrepair.

[bjl584]

I grew up in a rural area and wouldn't have it any other way.

I'll gladly accept all the extra work and expenses to live in the country. I couldn't imagine city life. I don't think that I could even live in a housing plan.

[Bob B.]

I was raised in the country, and I'm serious, THE COUNTRY. I went a very large university, Michigan State. After college, my wife and I moved to the NW suburbs of Chicago. We couldn't stand it, lasted five months, and moved back to Michigan.

We lived in town for a while, then the country, then town again (in both cases, small towns).

Eight years ago, I had the opportunity to take a job in my home area. My wife and I remodeled my family's original farmstead home. We're still living there, and plan to stay there for many, many years.

You're right on some of the expenses. We bought a very large zero turn lawn mower, and share it with my mom and dad. We chose to not have satellite tv, we have an antenna that picks up two channels.

Our property taxes are A LOT cheaper than when we lived in town. Also, we don't keep up with the Joneses, so I'm not sure that in our case country living is a lot more expensive. Yes, we do need to replace our septic system. That will cost a lot.

But, I've lived in a large suburban setting, a busy college town, and in small towns. Definitely my preference is out in the country. Except for college. If I could be 21 and live in East Lansing forever, I'd do that.

[ua_guy]

Here, here!! We left tract-home hell about 2 years ago for rural property. The move was planned and it has been a dream of ours for a long time. The property is woodsy and there is a river running through it, wildlife is abound. Most of our labor is spent readying firewood for the season, that, and keeping the forest from encroaching on structures and keeping some landscaped areas around the house looking good. We maintain a 1/3 mile section of gravel road, and, as expected, services are spread thin in the area. It's an encouragement to be self-sufficient as you never know when you might encounter a trespasser or what they're up to, and if there's a big windstorm, the only way you're getting OUT is if you're good with a chainsaw! Also, if you get yourself into trouble, you'd better know what to do, as fire/ems might be a long ways off.

[rennigade]

Grew up in the country. As kids we used to spend all day in the woods building forts, building dams that worked great until the next day you came back and it was gone because we didnt realize how bad we sucked at building dams, building fires and just hanging out because it was fun, and swinging on vines to heights that were probably not safe.

I moved a while ago and lived in the city for almost 10 years...apartment living. In 3 years we're moving back "home" to the country where we intend on spending the rest of our lives.

Myself personally...I couldnt imagine raising a child in an urban environment. Thats one of the primary reasons we want to move.

Ill probably sound like a dirty hippie but I feel much more connected being surrounded by wilderness and open space. One of my favorite things is to be in the woods during a snowstorm. Time seems to stop and everything is dead silent. Its a humbling experience to know that nature does not give a single F about you...whether you're a CEO, lawyer, etc...doesnt matter, you can check your ego at the door. You fall out of a tree stand while hunting or fall down a hill and break your leg and cant make it back for help...nature will consume you. You'll become part of the earth. I also like the fact that you can see a lot of stars since there usually isnt a lot of light pollution, again another humbling experience.

As for the amount of work involved...I would agree theres probably more work involved. Houses are houses...they will all pretty much require the same sort of maintenance. You usually have a larger yard which requires mowing...although my parents live on a 2 acre plot and it only takes them around 2 hours to mow...and that was before they upgraded to a massive john deere.

If it snows...the plowing is your problem unless you pay someone. If you have a stone driveway...you'll be maintaining that yearly because of snow and heavy rain storms.

I plan on having a large garden which will require some tlc and time...but thats something im looking forward to.

Theres pro and cons of rural vs urban. Its more of a convenience vs privacy issue. Ill gladly take privacy and give up some conveniences any day.

[electric_mikey]

i prefer the country too. but i live in the city because i have a well paying job here. one day when i retire, i will move to the country side. just love the peace and quiet... maybe by a lake.. damn that would be nice!

[awalk123]

I grew up in a rural area and I thought it was nice and all but it does get boring there isn't a lot to do when I went to college I made sure it was in an urban area so there was always stuff to do.

[ua_guy]

I grew up in a rural area and I thought it was nice and all but it does get boring there isn't a lot to do when I went to college I made sure it was in an urban area so there was always stuff to do.

I think that depends on your perspective. Some of us prefer all the things to do that living in rural areas affords.

[JulieAlbright]

I like to visit the city … take the train in, walk around, soak up some of the atmosphere.

I'm not sure I'd be great at living there full-time.

[awalk123]

I think that depends on your perspective. Some of us prefer all the things to do that living in rural areas affords.

Maybe my experience was different but I just love the city more then rural areas.