My two boys each have very distinct educational needs which our small rural school district cannot accommodate. There are no charter schools in this region and IEPs seem to be a bad joke at my kids’ expense. I won’t go into the laundry list of other reasons public school has consistently been a disservice to these children.
fugitive247's Life List
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1. be excellent to each other
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2. Be granted the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and to have the wisdom to know the difference...
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3. homeschool my children
1 entry . 1 cheer87 people -
4. be more civil towards people who piss me off
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5. grow old disgracefully
1 entry . 2 cheers74 people -
6. Heal
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7. live without regret
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8. promote the use of funny and creative tags
1 entry . 1 cheer1 person -
9. build a house
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10. take a CLEP Test
1 entry3 people -
11. write an autobiography
238 people -
12. write a novel
2 cheers9,665 people -
13. correct history to reflect the truth
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14. never lose my sense of wonder
1 cheer403 people -
15. expand my knowledge
72 people -
16. Do something new every month
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17. get certified to administer rabies vaccinations
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18. develop a meaningful blogroll
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19. Take more pictures
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20. send more letters
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21. get custom tattoos of my original graphic designs
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22. complete two unfinished projects for each new one I want to start
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23. try knitting a cable pattern
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24. knit this list:
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25. make patchwork quilts
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26. Run my own internet radio station
1 entry703 people -
27. have a secret underground lair
1 cheer436 people -
28. survive a zombie outbreak
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29. learn sign language
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30. see aerosmith in concert
41 people
The limitations of traditional education have generally been a personal sore spot throughout most of my life. The prospect of re-entering a classroom setting to simply review material I’ve mastered in the real world would be a huge waste of time, energy and money.
My family relocated to the Ozarks in late 2005. I was born a Capitol Beltway native (Washington, D.C. metro). My life before going rural was spent half in the MD/DC area and in Brevard County, FL (NASA/PAFB land). I’d never previously lived in a geographic region with a population of less than .5M.
Country living is not for everyone. Adjustments and sacrifices must be made. Perhaps the most difficult transition is the mindset from city to rural life. Want to pop into town only to rent a DVD or grab a burger? One should re-evaluate priorities because fuel certainly isn’t getting any cheaper.
Rural life demands many characteristics and skills. Some of these assets include self-sufficiency, determination, perseverance, courage, common sense, and patience. Of course there are many more not listed, but the ones here should be obvious.
Acceptance of new residents within a rural community isn’t a given; it must be earned. Rural survival and success is largely based on quality interactions within one’s community, so never discount the opportunity to willingly lend a hand. One never knows when life will necessitate being on the receiving end of a neighbor’s assistance.

