Having been told this city slicker would never be considered a “local”, she and her husband has invaded the exclusive domain of country dwellers. Traffic jams and commuter congestion of urban jungle have been traded for quiet of the countryside. Now they battle creatures of a different kind - rural wildlife. Whereas city people have often looked upon animals, both domestic and wild as an intriguing species, as a country dweller, animals now are a nuisance. Having trespassed on their territory/ habitat, there are still struggles between human and animal living in the countryside.

Mice abound in the countryside. If it’s not your car they can crawl into, it will be woodpiles, boxes, etc. Anywhere they can find shelter they will. Therefore, when you live in the countryside, never leave any kind of opening for critters to enter your house. They will find an entrance, no matter how careful you may be, so watch out.

If you are not tussling with country mice, you may be battling the raccoon who continually walks off with your bird feeder and throwing it into the bank when there is no food. If you house is built of logs, you may have a woodpecker doing a drum rudiment on the logs, mistaking it for a tree with insects. As lovely as deer are to countryside ambiance, your property is also their food supply. You may have to compete with them on a survival level. As for the neighborhood cow, Elsie, she likes to eat apple and then leave her calling card. These are the initial cons of countryside living.

On the other hand, country residents are frequently rewarded by the serenity of seagulls flying above, flocks of ducks resting on water surface, and occasionally witnessing the majestic flight of a bald eagle which has its home close by. At times, one can spy a head bobbing above the water’s surface; it is the lone seal which often comes into the cove to hunt for fish. As much as one loves to see the seal, the fisherman dread it, as it can consume fifty pounds of their potential catch for the day.

The cons of country living is a rude awakening from perfectly formed highways to muddy roads. Potholes are filled each spring with dirt, only to produce more potholes in the patch-up process. Navigating to the nearest village, which is three miles away becomes an obstacle course even a Nascar driver would be impressed with. There is no need to have a new vehicle in the country. It would always be mud-splattered and dirty. When a car dies, the locals merely leave it sitting on the homestead as it becomes one with the landscape of fallen down edifices.

They say people are more friendly and more neighborly in the country. Neighbors say: “We must have you over for supper very soon…”. What that means in country language is “Welcome to the neighborhood.” Three years later, one may still be grappling with the timeline for the word “soon”.

It is a myth when city people are told that everyone waves to everyone in the country. The truth of the matter is, ” I will only wave to you if you wave first.” In reality, since the countryside is being infiltrated by city folk these days, are not necessarily informed of proper country etiquette. So, wave only if you want to, but be prepared for rejection.

As for medical services, the pros are you can see your doctor/dentist within days of asking for an appointment. In the city you may have to wait for weeks. In the country, the doctor has time to talk about as many problems as you want and not be hustled out of the office within the prescribed ten minutes. In the country, services are not always about money; there still is trust and integrity.

For the pros of country living, this writer is lucky to have a hospital nearby. The cons are the ER is closed on certain given days, so if you have a heart attack or other life-threatening issues, you had better have it on the days the ER is open. There is no x-ray machine in the country ER, only simple instruments. If you must see a specialist, the drive is an hour to the nearest town, and two hours to the nearest city. If you live in the country, aim for good health.

Groceries cost more in the country. Sometimes the trucks do not make it in for a Monday morning delivery due to inclement weather. During cottage season, it is not rare to see the shelves bare, empty of bread and produce as weekenders stock their larder for the week. Just like people who prepare for hurricanes, living in the country means hoarding for lean times.

To live in the countryside, you must be self-sufficient as your closest neighbor may be miles away. To prepare for electrical outages during storms, most have wood stoves for warmth, and a propane stove to cook on. For the hardiest of country folk, many still chop their own wood (sometimes in the dead of winter).

It is relatively safe to leave your car or home unlocked in the country. However, if you were formerly a city slicker, habits die hard. Furthermore, in you live in northern climates, you may develop cabin fever as unploughed roads may have you stranded for days. Additionally, if you are not into winter sports like skating, skiing, or driving snow-mobiles, life can get pretty boring and isolated.

In the country, one does not have to be up with the latest fashion trends. Practicality and functionality rule the day. Styles in the country have not changed much in the past fifty years. Forget about wing-tipped shoes and stiletto heels; rubber duckies are the order of the day, having to contend with mud, dirt or rain. If you make an emergency run to the hardware store, don’t expect anyone to tell you there are paint splatters all over your face or hair. It seems you fit right in with the rest of the working folk.

There is more trust in the countryside. Farmers will often leave produce out for passersby to purchase, based on the honor system. Take what you want; leave the money in a tin box. In the country, trust is rewarded with integrity and honesty.

A city dweller never truly understands the concept of “peace and quiet” until they start living in the countryside. One can hear a pin drop and that is exactly what bothers your sense of quiet. Every crack and crackle heard is mistaken for a break-in for a city person. A car driving up a country road at 5 am is certainly an intrusion to its deadly silence.

In the country, life moves much much slower. Everyone knows your name, what you read, your previous occupation, where you go, just by reading your mail. The post mistress of this writer’s post office makes it a point to find out all about you and call you by name. If you want anonymity, do not move to the countryside. Here, everyone seems to be related, so watch what you say about their relatives. If a name pops up in getting to know your neighbors, chances are, their country cousins live nearby. If you build a home in the country, expect to have a granny-suite for the construction workers, because now you have become an employer of a long-term employee. When impatience and frustration abound, just remember: “This is not the city!”.