live in the country

Yesterday I googled a small area a few hours from our house. I figured it would be fun to see what sort of real estate was available. The area is one of our favorites. We go there for retreats. There was a house, not a GREAT house, and not really a “log cabin”, but a nice little house. The thing was, the surroundings in the picture we so perfect! I feel like, now, maybe, this is actually possible. I’d have to find high speed internet or my family won’t move with me, and reasonable driving distance for things, but it COULD happen.

This morning’s newspaper had an add from a company building log cabins around a lake not far from here. I looked up their website and e-mailed my husband about it. What started as “Hey cool! This is what we’ve always talked about.” Ended up as “It’s only an hour away and very affordable and we should go next weekend and look at the land” Dude! I may end up in a cabin!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t live in Chicago but I live in a suburb belonging to Chicago. I HATE going to Chicago. I just feel too stimulated, claustrophobic by all the buildings, there’s also filth, too much noise, pollution, too many cars, too many people, not enough GREEN…I think I would die if I lived there. I can’t stand where I live even though its not as horrible as Chicago. I always wanted to live in the country but somewhere that has grocery stores and other necessities nearby so I wouldn’t be in the total wilderness. Sometimes I have to go to Wisconsin or the into the more “country” parts of Illinois like Rockford for example and on the way there I get so jealous. When I see farms, and houses nestled in open spaces of land my heart skips a beat. I want to live someplace like this someday. When I was in Greece I had to stay in a village that isn’t even written on a map for a month, away from everything in the mountains and I loved the peacefulness and beauty.

Sadly, I don’t know if my dream can come true because I don’t think I can leave my family. I can’t drive either which makes things difficult.

I grew up in a beautiful, pastoral region. I still miss the sounds, the smells, the weather…. the beauty of the outdoors. I would like to be able to live a life that did not depend on being a corporate worker bee.

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.

Man you don’t know how badly I long to leave this city~!

I’m in the country at the moment – in Luxembourg, where about 60% is forrest, and fields. Our house is even between cliffs!
I’ll be moving back to England soon, though, but living in the country is definatly worth it, although the UK is my home!
lol :-)
xxxx xxxx

If such a place, as described in James Herriot’s Darrowby in Yorkshire does exist, i wanna live there. Like Austria where Julie Andrews sings ‘the hills are alive…’. Always wanted to have a farm or a ranch.and sleep under the stars.. and wash in the stream.. and breathe fresh air, pine scented and full of dew and morning sweetness… and not just room freshner.

I live in suburbia. Not a bad place. Certainly not the city. I find myself though, caught up in the greed. My neighbor has a better lawn so I need one. My neighbor has a better car, or a house that needs no repair, or trees that don’t need to be pruned. I’d love to be out in the woods, on land, where all of our animals can wander, and no one gives me a second look for the porch roof that’s drooping.

I hope i get married to a good country boy, and then I’ll just marry into the country lifestyle i’ve been dreaming of. =) Now… just gotta find that boy…