Anyone move from urban to rural and NOT regret it?

[ksr5377]

It is looking like there's a very good chance that DH will be offered a job in his hometown with a salary that we could actually live on.  About 4 years ago we were really hoping to make the move there.  We would live next door to his dad and step-mom in the house his grandparents built on their farm.  Well, finding comparable employment there proved more difficult than we anticipated.  Now, 4 years later, I feel much more at home here in the city.  We are involved in so many things and there are so many wonderful opportunities for homeschooling families here.  I'm beginning to have doubts about moving that I didn't have 4 years ago.  But I also love that my children would be able to live close to at least one set of their grandparents, as I was always very close to mine growing up.  It's about 2 hours from where we live now, so it wouldn't be impossible to come visit old friends here, but it would be far enough to make it something that doesn't happen a lot.  And the closest Target will be more than an hour away! :thumbdown:  

[Whereneverever]

I grew up around Chicago and I moved to Wyoming. There are 500,000 people in the whole state here, so I think it qualifies as rural.

 

I don't regret it at all. It's been awesome raising kids here.

[celticmom]

We moved from a suburb to a rural location and I have no regrets. I think whether you are more comfortable in a rural versus urban environment is in some cases dependent on personality and therefore it can be hard to advise someone else. The closest I have come to an urban living environment was when I was in college and it made me downright twitchy.

[Spy Car]

No, New York is where I'd rather stay,

I...get allergic smelling hay,

I...just adore a penthouse view,

Darling I love you, but give me Park Avenue :D

 

Bill (not cut out for rural)

[Parrothead]

I didn't regret some of the rural moves. Others, yes. Lots of regret there. I wish I could pick up the town I'm in now and move it 30 minutes closer to the big city of Bangor.

 

There is a part of me that wishes we were able to live in the middle of downtown Manhattan. Then I think about the need for better food and what about an EMP or some other disaster.

 

So I'll stay in the rural part of the state and travel to Boston, NYC and Washington, D.C. When I need a fix. It isn't terrible and I hear we will be getting a Hobby Lobby in Bangor by Christmas. Baby steps.

[MicheleinMN]

It is looking like there's a very good chance that DH will be offered a job in his hometown with a salary that we could actually live on.  About 4 years ago we were really hoping to make the move there.  We would live next door to his dad and step-mom in the house his grandparents built on their farm.  Well, finding comparable employment there proved more difficult than we anticipated.  Now, 4 years later, I feel much more at home here in the city.  We are involved in so many things and there are so many wonderful opportunities for homeschooling families here.  I'm beginning to have doubts about moving that I didn't have 4 years ago.  But I also love that my children would be able to live close to at least one set of their grandparents, as I was always very close to mine growing up.  It's about 2 hours from where we live now, so it wouldn't be impossible to come visit old friends here, but it would be far enough to make it something that doesn't happen a lot.  And the closest Target will be more than an hour away! :thumbdown:  

 

How old are your children?  I have loved raising my little children in a very rural area, my teenagers...not so much.  It is hard to find appropriate activities and the drive to everything raises the expense.  On the other hand, being near grandparents can offer so much to family memories that alone might be worth it.  Honestly, if you are comfortable in the city and your children are over 12 or 14, I think I would choose to stay put.

 

HTH

[swellmomma]

I do not regret moving out of the urban center into a rural area.  I regret moving to this particular town but not the move itself kwim.  We are still hoping one day to move into an even more rural location out of the town and onto a farm.  When we go back to the city now we all end up on edge, it just isn't us and we hate the crowds, noise, dirtiness, foul air etc.  Had we chosen the town 25 km down the highway I would say best move ever, instead we chose this village of 800 and that was a mistake but we still love living out here in teh country anyway.

 

ETA: as far as target being 1 hour away from where you are looking.  The closest target is 2 hrs from me.  Walmart is 45 minutes in 3 different directions depending which one I want to go to.  Costco is 2 hours etc BUT we have lots out here that makes it worthwhile.  We may not get our bulk or cheap shopping done without making a whole day out of it while we head "to the city".  But we still have plenty of activities for the kids, people are more willing to work with you if you want your kid in something but can't pay before the lessons start, because chances are you know their uncle, mother, gramma, kid etc and so they cut you some slack.  Walking into the library, post office, grocery store etc and having the clerks know your name is great (very good at the post office is someone sent something addressed wrong, they recognize the name and put it in your box anyway).  There is a lot more sense of "we have to do this together"-well not in my immediate village but in the next town over.  People really come together to help each other out, from the experienced quilters showing the newbies, to people sharing what is in their garden with others, to neighbors coming together to do bulk cooking, look after each other's homes and children, and really that old feeling that old feeling of community.  There is a down side to that of course, everyone knows your business,a nd if you or your kid screws up there is less grace and forgiveness than in the city ime,
 

Down side is I am 2 hours from my family.  Good side is I am 2 hours from my family...depends on what day it is.  Sometimes those 2 hours prevent us from participating in family events, or if I need a sitter it's too far to use them. BUT having 2 hours distance means they don't meddle like they used to.  They have learned to give me space and autonomy in raising my children rather than trying to make it their way.  Sometimes that 2 hours still feels too close lol

 

Okay so my edit was longer than my original but I thought it was worth adding :)

[ErinE]

No, New York is where I'd rather stay,

I...get allergic smelling hay,

I...just adore a penthouse view,

Darling I love you, but give me Park Avenue :D

 

Bill (not cut out for rural)

 

Green acres is the place to be

Farm livin' is the life for me

Land spreadin' out so far and wide

Keep Manhattan, just give me the countryside

 

Erin (city girl converted to country)

[Desert Strawberry]

I grew up in Los Angeles. I've lived in many places, mostly urban. Now, we lived in a town of 14,000 in Louisiana. I don't love this particular town, but I love rural life. So much. My front door opens to 60 acres of undeveloped land. Wild flowers, an ancient pecan tree, song birds , swallowtails, sweet air and blessed quiet. 

I would never, ever, ever go back. 

[City Mouse]

I don't regret our move from Houston to a very small town in New Mexico, but sure there are things that I miss. We live 1 hr from a Walmart. The nearest Target is 2hrs away. I miss all the good restaurants in Houston, but all it takes is a couple of hours in the "city" and I remember why I wanted to leave. The move was great from my oldest child. The very small public high school was better than I could have imagined. She had many opportunities here that she never would have been able to have in Houston because she is just an average kid.

The school here as not been so great for my younger which is why he is at home now, but then again, school in Houston was not so great for him either.

[ErinE]

In all seriousness, there is a big adjustment period. The biggest struggle was from urban to suburban. Suburban to rural was much easier. With country life, my kids are very free-range. They find nests and feathers, discover animal carcasses and bones, they've built forts (as in used hammers, nails, shovels, etc. to build structures). They dig holes, climb rocks, explore forests. Their world has really expanded beyond our home. In the big city and surburbia, I would have struggled letting them roam far. Once a week, I try to schedule an activity beyond the property.

[J-rap]

I'm a city gal but we moved to a small town (5,000) 20 years ago. This is where we raised our children, and have absolutely never regretted it. It probably took a few years to feel really settled and part of the community, although we had no connections at all. That part will come more quickly for you since you have family there!

 

I don't know how many children you have or what ages, but we found the simple living in a small town to be absolutely wonderful. It took so much stress out of our lives. Our kids could walk or ride their bikes everywhere, they could participate in anything that they wanted (no competition!), they could be big fish in a small pond. :) They could walk down the street and know most of the adults they passed, and the adults would stop and chat with them. Now that our last one is about to fly, we are thinking we may move back to the big city, because ultimately I feel like that's more me. But for raising my children in a happy, positive, stress-free environment, small town was the way to go for us.

[Χά�ων]

I LOVE living rural.

 

But

 

1. DS is way into sports and I spend a lot of a time driving to meet his physical activity needs. Some days I hate the drive but then I remember that I only have to drive 90minutes each way to the rink 3x/week for speed skating, because not 25 minutes from us is an awesome gym that allows DS (9) to workout and has a bouldering area for him to work out in and to prevent him from getting an overuse injury or getting burned out specializing so young.

 

2. DS has a rare illness and it is over an hour each way to see his specialist. To get to the children's hospital were his records are an ambulance would have to pass 5 or 6 hospitals and 3 trauma centers in the suburbs before getting to the children's hospital in the city. The ER not having his medical records is a big concern for me but even if I were to move to the city the area it would still be an issue.

 

 

If 1 may affect you check nearish sports leagues and ask your self how far you are willing to drive.

If 2 I REALLY hope 2 is not and will never be an issue for you.

[dancingmama]

I had to check to see who wrote this because i could have written this myself about six moths ago. Yes, we moved to a more rural location. I can't tell you yet if I regret it because we have only been here 2 months. I can tell you it's a huge adjustment. I can also tell you you will save money at Targer. No more quick runs to see what's on clearance. I hate the limited options for, well, everything. But my kids have more freedom here and things are much slower paced.

[Seasider]

We considered going rural a number of years ago, but had kids that would soon be driving. The thought of my kids driving home alone late on a two lane country road with spotty cellular coverage was the straw that broke that camel's back. We know several families who are rural, and their teens are either stuck at home or making those late lonely drives. It just wasn't something my dh and I felt we could be comfortable with.

[LibraryLover]

No regrets. Granted, we are not far from everything.

[Audrey]

Yes!  I always lived in large cities before I moved here.  But... I always secretly dreamed of marrying a farmer and living in the country.  It's much better than my dreams, even.

 

No regrets here. :)

[Roadrunner]

No, New York is where I'd rather stay,

I...get allergic smelling hay,

I...just adore a penthouse view,

Darling I love you, but give me Park Avenue :D

 

Bill (not cut out for rural)

I live probably in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. It's kinda rural. I grew up in the ity though and despite 16 years here, I am still begging my husband to move to New York. I am with Bill on this one.

[creekland]

I agree with the pp who said it's a personality thing.  I'm positive it is.

 

When hubby and I were young and fresh out of college we moved to a city with a metro pop of 1 million +.  It was ok, but we both itched to get out.  After 5 years there (and 1 year renting in a small town) we moved to our farm and have never regretted it.  It's been a great place to raise boys with fields, woods, a creek, a stocked pond, and SPACE.

 

Unlike some of the others, we aren't far from shopping for things like Walmart, JCP, etc.  It takes me 15 minutes to get to them (10 miles).  Ironically, it took me longer when we lived in the city (2 - 3 miles - 25 minutes) due to traffic.  There are fewer restaurant choices, etc, but we just don't need that many as we don't go out to eat all that often.  Right now we're eating tons of organic super fresh produce from our garden and giving bags of things away to those we know who don't have their own gardens.

 

I can't stand having neighbors right next to me.  When we lived in the city we didn't even know our neighbors (more than the pure basics - name, etc).  Here our neighbors are farther away, but we know them fairly well and tend to take care of each other's places (and critters) when we travel, etc.  We have far more connections here.  Newspapers here list the police blotter (you know who's been convicted of crimes), kudos (when kids do well in college and the military, ect), and family reunions, etc.  In the city?  None of that made that paper.

 

Car accidents?  There are FAR fewer here than there were in the city where we lived.  I remember having to watch the traffic reports every morning before hubby went to work to see where the "issues" were.  Here bad accidents only occur every now and then.  I feel far safer having my son come home from work at 1am here than I ever would have in the city.  If something went wrong here, I know whoever comes along next will pull over and help.  In the city many would just drive on by.

 

It's a vast culture difference and I think we're all mainly wired one way or another.  I'm glad we tried both to have the experience, but both hubby and I are wired rural and love it.  We're curious to see which our kids will choose...

[Carrie12345]

We moved from heavy suburban (considered a "metropolitan area") to semi-rural (planned community, but plenty of farms in the area.) For reference, Target is 45 minutes away. ;-)

 

My only regret is the specific area we chose. We're looking now to go more rural.

 

Yes, there are drawbacks. But I like it much better overall, and I feel it's given my kids more freedoms. Not the kind of freedoms typical of a less rural area, but more AND different.

[indigomama]

We did just that- only no relatives, 11 months ago. Still adjusting.........

[momto10blessings]

I did! And never looked back. Although, I'm not as far out as you. The nearest target is 20 minutes, but it's in a small town

[PeacefulChaos]

I'm another who thinks it varies by person!!!

I don't know which I would like best.  Probably something not inner city, but with decent access to a city and the things it has to offer :D :lol: ... because places like that are so easy to come by!!  I've never lived in a city - grew up more 'small town USA' but it was bigger than where we are now.  I like the bigger size better.  ;)

We're a little too rural now for my taste.  I loved visiting the city, but having never lived there I can't say for sure what I would think of that.  Probably won't ever happen, anyway, though, as DH HATES the city!  :D

 

Oh, forgot to add this important piece of info:  We don't have a Target in town, either.  The closest one is about 40-45 minutes.  We do have a WalMart and another grocery store, though.  :lol:  Would love to have more to choose from, though I've never understood the big deal about Target... :P

[LostSurprise]

We moved from heavily suburban to a small town 13 years ago when the boys were tiny. I've never regretted it. I didn't like the suburban consumer culture or the constant children's activities. 

 

That's my personality though. We found a much cheaper cost of living and a town where the boys can know everyone and range everywhere. 

[catz]

I was raised kind of rural. I lived urban. Moved to a first ring suburb. Couldn't take it - moved back into the city.

 

I think is very personality dependent. I'm definitely a city girl, but everyone's different!

[Dandelion]

We moved from a major city (metro area pop. of over 2 million) to a small community on the outskirts of a smaller city (metro area pop. of around 500K) 13 years ago.  The community we live in now has around 15,000 residents.

 

There are pros and cons, but overall, we like it.  We love the space (we live on 5 acres), the beautiful surroundings, and not being too close to neighbors.  Shopping areas with all of the major stores are only a 15-20 min. drive away, but we still feel like we live "out in the country".   We do drive quite a bit for activities, but it's not too bad. 

[happypamama]

Almost seven years ago, we got a chance to move from the suburbs of DC to the farm country of south central Pennsylvania, and we jumped as fast as we could to take it. Have never regretted it. Being rural has its drawbacks, mainly that it costs time and gas to go anywhere; there are no quick trips to anywhere, and we turn down free events sometimes because the gas is expensive, or the trip is just too long. And when we do go out, it's a long day. We're 30 minutes from WalMart (but only 30 minutes, so it's not terrible), and it's a good thing we planned homebirths for our last two babies, because we wouldn't have made it to the hospital. DH's commute is 45 minutes each way, which is time-consuming and expensive. Sometimes winter in the country grates on my nerves -- stomping through snow (although if we had a garage it would be easier), DH hauling firewood for the furnace, etc. (We have an 1830s house too, so there's quite a bit of the Little House on the Prairie thing going on here, LOL.) We have well water which is very hard, and therefore hard on appliances and clothing.

 

At the same time, we're only 30 minutes from stuff. It's not insurmountable. I plan better because of it. We are selective with what activities we choose to do, only those that are truly worth the time and gas, not just anything we can. We don't buy a lot of random stuff, because we're not in stores very often. I keep my freezer stocked because I don't guarantee I'll get to the right store when the right stuff is on sale. (I plan which direction I'm going based on which one meets the greatest number of errands that day.) We like having a wood-burning furnace more than we liked paying for oil heat, and although the well water is hard, it is also very clean and doesn't have the concerns that we'd have with city water. We don't have neighbors right on top of us. We have room for a garden and chickens (which we plan to do in the next few years). DH's commute is a pleasant one, far nicer than when he was in stop-start traffic for 1.5 hours each way to go 15 miles; 45 minutes each way on a straight road through the country is so much nicer. We have tons of room for the kids to run and yell and dig and explore. Sunsets are stunning. We've sat outside several times this summer on our back hill, cooking dinner over an open fire, while the boys tumble down the hill, the sun setting over the mountains, quiet, peaceful, stars twinkling clearly. . . and I think, "THIS is why we do it. So worth the extra effort."

 

We've lived in various places. I don't miss urban, suburban, or even small town, life at all.

[Laura Corin]

We moved from big cities (most recently Hong Kong) to the countryside.  Whilst where we live is surrounded by farmland, we are between two small towns, one of which has major university.  Each is 15 minutes drive away.  For me, this has been a perfect move, but I'm not sure that the kind of extreme rural that you mention would be as perfect for me.

 

L

[emzhengjiu]

We moved from big cities (most recently Hong Kong) to the countryside.  Whilst where we live is surrounded by farmland, we are between two small towns, one of which has major university.  Each is 15 minutes drive away.  For me, this has been a perfect move, but I'm not sure that the kind of extreme rural that you mention would be as perfect for me.

 

L

 

This for me would be perfect.  Rural but not isolated.  But as I grow older and watch elderly family members lose the ability to drive, living in an area with good public transportation or within easy walking distance to a variety of activies has become very important.  We live near an urban area now with lots of possible activities for homeschoolers.   I'm not willing to give that up since my girls are teens.

[LeslieAnneLevine]

That sounds unpleasant at best. I can understand wanting to be closer to the grandparents--but right next door on their property? 

 

As for the area itself, it sounds way too far from civilization, especially for a family that is involved in lots of activities.

 

 

[Mothersweets]

We moved to a very rural area about 9 years ago. At first I really didn't like it, but now I can't imagine living anywhere else.

 

Walmart and Penney's is about 25 minutes away, Target and most other big name stores are 3 hours away.  BUT...Amazon is only one click away. ;)  I love Amazon and prime shipping.

 

One thing that I don't think anyone else has mentioned - going to do errands like the post office, the DMV, etc. is a SNAP. No big lines to wait in - at Christmastime the post office is 5 -10 minute wait time at lunch. 

 

Seven of my kids have gotten their driver's license while living here and there has only been one time when it took more than 30 minutes to take the test, take the photo, and fill out the forms.

 

It's something to think about.

[ksr5377]

Well, for a little more information, our oldest is just turning 7.  I don't think I could move if they were teenagers.  As it is, if we move, I'm sure when they're teens they'll have something to say about it.  While we would live right next door to my in-laws, there's about a 15 acre pasture that would be between the houses.  I actually kind of like this about the situation.  Also, while Target (my favorite!) is very far away, Walmart, JCPenney's, a large chain grocery store and Kohl's are only about 15 minutes, so it's not desolate.  I also grew up in the country, so there's a part of me that loves the idea of my children having the freedom outdoors that I had.  Right now we have a 20x25 foot backyard.  However, we have been in the city for 12 years now, and I don't hate it.  My biggest complaint is actually our neighborhood and to move to a better one, with a comparable house, would mean we would spend twice as much as we did on this house.  I kind of hate the idea of spending so much more for the same square footage, you know?  Especially when the house there is SO BIG and practically being given to us by his parents. That's a huge financial plus!  I think my problem is right now I'm just not sure what type of person I am, city or country.  As for teen drivers, I learned in the country, and I don't see how those roads could possibly be more dangerous than driving the crazy highways where I live now.  While there are few if any specifically homeschool activities like we have here, there is a YMCA, lots of sports leagues, 4-H (which I loved as a child but there's nothing here in the city) etc. and the town borders a very large lake so there are lots of water activities like that.  Lots and lots of praying to do and I'm definitely going to make the pro-con list.

[sparrow]

We moved back to my hometown, to take over my family's business, 6 years ago. It was definitely an adjustment.  I missed Target, but more than anything, I missed Trader Joe's!  It's funny how your attitude changes about shopping when you live rurally.  When we first moved, I took every opportunity to make a "city run" and would stock up on all the things I thought were "essentials".  It wasn't too long before I didn't miss what I had previously considered essential when it ran out.

 

I love raising the kids here.  They are friends with the kids of my childhood friends---like the little sister of one of my best friends in high school telling my daughter, "Did you know your mom used to have PINK hair!?" There are hitching posts at local businesses for the Amish buggies. It's just a cozy place that the kids love to ride their bikes around.

 

Facebook is nice, because we still keep a connection with our old friends that also live about 2 hours away.  We thought we would see each other more than we have, but everyone is so busy with kids, etc. it just doesn't happen.

 

Overall though, we have zero regrets.

[City Mouse]

We moved to a very rural area about 9 years ago. At first I really didn't like it, but now I can't imagine living anywhere else.

 

Walmart and Penney's is about 25 minutes away, Target and most other big name stores are 3 hours away. BUT...Amazon is only one click away. ;) I love Amazon and prime shipping.

 

One thing that I don't think anyone else has mentioned - going to do errands like the post office, the DMV, etc. is a SNAP. No big lines to wait in - at Christmastime the post office is 5 -10 minute wait time at lunch.

 

Seven of my kids have gotten their driver's license while living here and there has only been one time when it took more than 30 minutes to take the test, take the photo, and fill out the forms.

 

It's something to think about.

I forgot about these benefits. When my Dd was 16 and went to take the written test to get her learner a permit we waited 3 hours outside of Houston. There is a 3 month waiting list to take the driving test, plus another 3 hour wait to turn everything in to get the liscense. Although we had. To drive to a town with a DMV office, it took about 15 min to get her permit. She took the driving test with one of our local village police officers. The only reason I usually have to wait at the post office is because the clerk has to walk from the back where she is sorting the mail up to the counter.

[Laura Corin]

This for me would be perfect.  Rural but not isolated.  But as I grow older and watch elderly family members lose the ability to drive, living in an area with good public transportation or within easy walking distance to a variety of activies has become very important.  We live near an urban area now with lots of possible activities for homeschoolers.   I'm not willing to give that up since my girls are teens.

 

 

Public transportation is key for us.  There is a bus that passes within thirty yards of our drive.  We will likely to move house when we get older - the house is hard to heat and the garden/yard takes a fair bit of work, but finding another place with very easy access to public transport will be key.  We would ideally like to split this property and build a second house, but we will probably not get planning permission to do so.

 

L

[OnTheBrink]

I went from a suburb of San Diego to a rural midwestern town of 1,200. I HATED it. H-A-T-E-D IT.  I wanted to like it. I dreamed of Mayberry. What I got was back-woods Stepford. My son and I were just talking about this the other day and we counted maybe 3 families that were kind to us and became our friends. Beyond that, it was awful. The local Ford dealership refused to work on our van because we didn't buy it from him. If you didn't hunt and/or attend the "country club" (that met in a metal Morton building!) you were out. If you attended the Southern Baptist church, there was no way you'd be allowed to befriend someone from the Presbyterian church. The tiniest Walmart known to mankind was in the area, but if you wanted something larger than a Dollar General (which is about how large this WM was), you had to drive about 40 minutes to the nearest college town (a thriving metropolis of 10K people which boasted a Super Walmart, a full-sized supermarket and a JCP) or drive the other direction about an hour for a major city. One of the happiest days of my life was moving out of that horrid place. The good-ole-boy politics, the preconceived notions of what people from CA were like, the outright hostility for being an "outsider" was too much. 

 

Green Acres is NOT the place for me, ever! (ymmv ;) )

[Excelsior! Academy]

In high school I moved from a city to a rural, very rural, area. The public school kids had grown up together and were not really accepting to outsiders. If you are homeschooling then of course that would be different. Also, there was nothing for teens to do except get into trouble. There were no bowling lanes, skating rinks, movie theaters, etc. Heck, there was not even a cafe most of the time. There were two quick stops. That was it. When teens have nothing to do the alternatives can be bad. Just remember to keep 'em occupied. ;)

 

As adults dh and I moved to the edge of the city and have never looked back. I love that I can shop, go to church, the movies, concerts, the zoo, and even see cows in pastures if I want to within a 15 minute drive. It is the best of both. The only way I would ever go back to the country would be kicking and screaming. Quite literally.

[Ottakee]

I would move to where you are considering in a heartbeat. I would love a 15 acre field---which I would plant hay for my horses in :-)

 

We are in a great location. We live 20 minutes from town which boasts one of the best freshwater beaches in the US, Walmart, lots of other stores, places to eat, a beautiful boardwalk, etc. We are 40 minutes away from a large city (2nd largest in MI) which has a wonderful children's hospital, all of the specialists for my dds, any sports, theater, concert, art type thing you would want.

 

But we live in a rural township---36 square miles without one traffic light----although 2 corners on the edge of the township do have 4 way stops with a blinker. The nearest gas station/mini mart is 2 1/2 miles away (but we could ride our horses there if we wanted) We have bayous, a river, and a huge recreation area along the river that covers a few miles of land. We have 5 acres but wish we had another 15 or so.

 

We have the best of both worlds right now.

[prairiewindmomma]

I hate driving for medical stuff and costco runs, but Amazon Prime and Netflix and being close to family make up for it. I can't do ultra rural (three hours from anything), but rural an hour or two away from urban is awesome.

 

Will you have restaurant options? For me, that's the hard adjustment. I can get used to having to plan shopping and buying books instead of borrowing them....but the nights where I just dont want to cook...I am glad dh can bring us something on hos way home from work.

[lllll]

..

[fairfarmhand]

Me!

 

Be prepared for a few years of time to get used to filling your time in different ways that what you are used to.

[Guest]

I moved from a major city to a small town in '98 and not only do I not regret it, but I have never had the slightest desire to go back for a visit. There were no Targets or Walmarts here when I moved and I was active in local political groups that tried to keep Walmart out, but we did not suceed. I do not shop there and rarely darken Target's door, although I am no saint and will order from eBay or Amazon if I have exhausted all other alternatives.

 

The transition from urban to rural life is more difficult for teens. dd was ten when we moved, and she did  not adjust as well as her brother, who was six. He stayed and she left, but she has always been a difficult child and far more peer dependent than her brother. She kept in touch with friends and family from the city she considers her "hometown" and is in the process of moving back there as an adult.

 

I feel that her added maturity might protect, or at least minimize, the influence of drugs, gangs, and other hazards of big city life that could have cost her her life during adolescence if I had been unable to make the move.

 

My area is not known for its high quality of medical care (and if there are any other locals reading this, I apologize for making you spit coffee all over your keyboard with my extreme understatement) so I will probably not live as long as I would if I moved back to the city in my 70s or 80s but I'm completely okay with that and it feels like a small price to pay for the quality of life I enoy and the advantages my children have from growing up here.

[LMD]

We're in the process of making the move at the moment.  We bought 20 acres earlier this year in a small town.  It's only 30 mins from a large city with everything and only 1.5 hours from where we are now.  It's been a dream of ours for over a decade and we're super excited to be taking steps to get there!  We probably won't be actually living out there for another 1-2 years yet...  We wanted to make the move while the children were still young because I agree with the pp that moving teens away from their peers/niche is very hard on them

[Spy Car]

Somehow when I ponder the myriad of reasons I enjoy living in a major metropolis the proximity to Target stores ranks pretty low on the list.

Not that we don't have the choice of many Targets with-in short driving range, but....

Bill

[Berta]

We moved 600 miles away to a rural area and I don't even want to go back to even visit anyone! My husband grew up in a rowhome in the middle of Philadelphia. It's hard to get the city out of the boy, and there is an adjustment period but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. We are only 20 mins to a Walmart and the "center" of town. I'm 45 mins to the "city" where there is everything I could possibly want or need. We have 4 acres that border 100's of wooded acres. We have chickens and I'm working on getting goats. (The chickens almost threw my city boy over the edge, I need to wait a bit on the goats :) )

 

My older daughter just turned 18 yesterday and she absolutely loves it and would never move back to the city. Also, around here kids can start driving at 15, so they can get to activities and places by themselves by the time they turn 16.

[madteaparty]

I'm only 4 months in, bracing for the harsh winter, but really loving it thus far.

[CyndiLJ]

We moved from Southern California to rural Colorado 17 years ago, and we've never looked back.  I dislike returning for family visits, it is totally not my heart home at all and I doubt I could ever comfortably live in an urban or suburban area again and feel I belonged.

 

The funny thing is we have 3 acres but we have no desire to do the whole Hobby Farm thing.  We raise no llivestock, I don't garden or can anything, I don't sew or bake fresh bread.  We don't own a single pair of overalls, nor a tractor.  We are the least "farmy" people I know,and no, I don't want a horse...not ever.

 

Despite that, there is really something to be said for stepping out your back door at night and looking up at a sky filled with starlight, as you hear noting but the wind rustling through the cottonwoods.  No sirens, no neighbor sounds, perhaps a cow or too mooing off in the distance.  There are not streetlights,not curbs,no asphalt road, no to-the-door mail delivery.  There is no mall, though we do have a couple of Big Box stores that service the region.  There is no real arts community, no fancy restaurants where you couldn't walk in the door with your "dress jeans" on.  There are more churches than you can count twice on all fingers and toes.  There are Carhartt wearing, sweat stained ball cap farmers who know what real work is.  There are sunsets like you've never seen before, and falls that make you feel like you walked out of a postcard.  There are opportunities for friendships that dno' exist in larger areas, as people's lives are a little slower here, and a real value is placed on relationship.  

 

Yes, the lack of diversity can make life a bit bland at moments, and Amazon has become my most trusted friend.  But life is so very, very good here...I found my true self here, in the land of the Tshirt and jeans wearing, no makeup donning women.  I am home.  For some, I recognize it would never be home, but for some of us, it is the home we dreamed of long before we knew what it would be like,and it lived up to every expectation.

[Sahamamama]

For me, it would depend on the definition of "rural." We are considered rural.... for New Jersey. ;)

 

Rural in Wyoming might be considerably different, you know?

 

So... what state? how rural? what size town? any larger towns nearby? These would all factor in to the decision.

[Catwoman]

Am I the only one who shudders when people talk about having to drive "only" 20 minutes to the stores? :eek:

 

I would be quite annoyed if it took me more than 5 minutes to get to several grocery stores and a couple of malls.

 

I'm thinking that the whole rural thing wouldn't work for us, unless we lived right on the edge of a small town near a more suburban area. Then it could be the best of both worlds.

 

But I'd still need to be within an hour of a major city.

[Dandelion]

Despite that, there is really something to be said for stepping out your back door at night and looking up at a sky filled with starlight, as you hear noting but the wind rustling through the cottonwoods.  No sirens, no neighbor sounds, perhaps a cow or too mooing off in the distance. 

 

Yes!  I love this too.  In fact, I just stepped outside to go look up at that beautiful Colorado country night sky.  One of our favorite things to do on summer nights is read bedtime stories outside.  I have just enough light on our deck to read and the kids lie on blankets and look up at the night sky. 

 

Here, the wind rustles through the Ponderosa Pines.   :)