Living in the country may not be what you expect if you have never tried it. While the lifestyle may seem ideal and peaceful, it is not for everyone. If you are considering a move to the country, you need to know the pros and cons of rural life.

Cons of Rural Living

• The quiet you longed for is filled with coyote sounds at night, snow mobile sounds in the winter, and the sound of your own voice yelling at the deer to stop eating your tulips.

• If you have school-aged children they may be faced with up to an hour on the school bus twice a day.

• Your nearest neighbor may be over a mile away. For some people this can be isolating.

• Shopping is generally not convenient. While you may not think this is a big deal, some items, such as milk, are staples that you may need to purchase several times a week.

• Unless you are independently wealthy, or are farming as a source of income, job opportunities are scarce or may require a lengthy drive.

• Mechanics and most services are hard to find. In the city, if your car breaks down, you can always make due with a taxi or bus until it is fixed. In the country, how are you even going to get home from the mechanic after leaving your vehicle there?

• Internet and television services may be worse.

• Restaurants and entertainment are not easily available. Driving involves time, expense, and planning.

• Those coyotes mentioned above, could be a threat to any livestock you might keep, or even your family pets.

• In the winter, you need to keep in mind that rural roads might not be in great shape.

Pros of Rural Living

• You will probably have friendly neighbors. They may be two miles away or more, but they still consider themselves as your neighbor. If you have a problem and need a hand, you can generally find a neighbor able to help.

• Distant neighbors. In the country you have more privacy and do not feel that somebody is always watching you. Houses are far apart, sometimes you cannot even see your neighbors home.

• You can have some of the pets you always wanted, but are not allowed in the city. Pheasants, sheep, cows, llamas, or horses! You can have hens for your own, healthy, free-range eggs.

• You can have a large garden. If you want to grow some of your own food to become more self-sufficient, you can do this in the country.

• Less stress. In the city people become competitive and cold. Each one trying to beat the rat race, work, work, work; keeping up with their neighbors, and so forth. By removing the numbers of people you are surrounded by, you become more relaxed, because it just “feels” less stressful.

• If you enjoy wildlife, it will be abundant.

• You can do as much, or as little, as you want. If the lawn is a little tall, it won’t matter. If you want a manicured lawn, you can have one, but if you want a forest, let it grow!

• The country air is typically cleaner, making it healthier for you and your family.

• You can be self-sufficient, or at least closer to it. With the garden and chickens mentioned earlier, you can start raising your own food.  By selling some eggs you can make a bit of extra income.

• You have a greater feeling of personal freedom that you may not find in the city.

In general you have to balance what is important to you, and decide if you are cut out for country life, or not. On one hand you will have free well water and can wash your car any time you want. On the other hand when you live in the country you might be driving down a dirt road and might need to wash your car regularly.