9 Things No One Told You About Living In The Country

Please note: this is a contributed post.

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There isn’t a thought that bothers the brain more than uprooting everything, leaving the city and moving to the countryside where the air is fresh, trees blowing in the wind, serene country lanes, roaring fires and a dollop of picture-perfect peace and quiet. It’s the dream that many people think of on a regular basis.

It doesn’t matter if you’re the matriarch of your own mad little family, half of a retired couple or a recent college grad that’s suddenly fallen out of love with skyscrapers, cement jungles and the constant noise and stress of cosmopolitan life – country living has an undeniable pull.

But, before you decide to pull on your Hunter wellies (rain boots), grab a waterproof jacket from Eddie Bauer, and flee to that idyllic spot with rolling hills and stone-made houses, there are some things you might want to know before you head down that country road.

So, without further ado, here is a list of things no one has told you about living in a rural place surrounded by countryside:

1. Driving Everywhere is Mandatory
2. Country Living is Lonely at First
3. What Happened to All the Lights
4. Amazing Commute
5. Spotty Internet Connection
6. Meeting New People
7. Great Place to Raise a Dog
8. Interesting Entertainment Options
9. Parking is Never an Issue

Driving Everywhere is Mandatory

When you live in the country, getting into the car to go somewhere – anywhere – is as normal as breathing and sleeping. If you live in the country, just buying groceries can be a major event as the nearest store may be miles away from your home. People don’t usually wander around the countryside, without their vehicle, unless they are working out by going for a walk, hike, trail run or mountain bike ride.

When you live in the city, people walk everywhere to escape getting on hectic subways and cramped buses, and kids carve up the sidewalks on scooters. But, if you live far away from the city, you probably don’t have a lot of public transportation options and many country lanes don’t have sidewalks.

Country Living is Lonely at First

It might be the first week that you really struggle or that feeling of isolated loneliness might last a month – either way, that first stage in your new home can be difficult and feelings of homesickness can really start to make you miss your friends and that big city life. But stick it out. People in the countryside are often more friendly compared to the city dwellers you’re used to, so approach the locals and introduce yourself wherever you can.

Yes, making friends as an adult can feel a lot like speed dating, but you’ll find yourself becoming a part of a community, which is something cities still struggle to create. You won’t just have friends, you will become part of the local scene and get involved with things you never knew you would be interested in, from bake sales to country fairs to volunteering with a local charity and much more.

What Happened to All the Lights?

It doesn’t matter what your impression of nighttime was while you were living in a big city, it was all wrong. It was all orange glowing streetlights, headlights and light pollution. So when you head to the country, you need to be prepared to be hit by an overwhelming sense of darkness. When the sun goes down, you’ll find yourself muttering the words, “Oh, so this is what night time is meant to look like’, as you stand in your backyard, staring into complete darkness.

But, on a clear night, it will also be the most beautiful thing you have ever seen because nothing is more awe-inspiring than standing beneath a blanket of shimmering stars and getting your first Milky Way experience. It doesn’t matter how long you end up living in the country, you will never get bored of this sight, and it’s the perfect light-free environment to take up astronomy. 

Your Commute Becomes Amazing

We know this sound may sound crazy because your commute may feel a little bit longer at first, but nothing is more stressful and annoying than commuting to work when you live in a city. Fighting your way onto an over-filled train, subway, or bus and then bumping into your fellow commuters during your ride to and from work is a pain in the you know what. But move to the country and all that changes.

If you’re commuting into the city, from your new country home, you can get a seat on the train where you can either read or relax as the train fills around you. Or, if you have moved jobs, you can enjoy a leisurely drive down leaf-strewn lanes, where the only bit of traffic is an occasional stray dog. Also, more and more businesses offer their employees remote work options, so you might not have any commute if you are able to work from home.

Spotty Internet Connection

It’s like an ongoing joke out in the boondocks – the internet connection can be really bad – so you can either laugh about it or cry. It’s your choice. Actually, that’s not true. You can plan ahead and find an internet provider that offers a fast download speed and then enjoy watching your favorite Netflix shows in front of a crackling fire, while enjoying a cup of hot chocolate or glass of wine. But that’s not all because there is another massive bonus to be had from the poor connectivity: you will use your phone less. The countryside is right on your doorstep, ready to be explored, which is a whole lot better than just looking at your phone (it’s just nice to have that Netflix option at the end of the day doing outdoorsy things).

You Will Meet New People

Yup, this is a thing and, at first, it can really take you by surprise. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking through your local small town on market day or you’re going on a morning stroll to clear your head and fill your lungs with fresh air – when someone walks towards you, there is a 95.6% chance they will say “hello” or “good morning”. Don’t freak out, just take a quick breathe and say “good morning” back. It’s polite and it’s part of what makes everyone in the country so much friendlier and happier than those living the big city life.

Great Place to Raise a Dog

Dogs are synonymous with the countryside. They are that bridge between you and the great outdoors, your reason to get up at the crack of dawn, wrap yourself in a warm blanket, fill a thermos mug with hot tea or coffee and take a short stroll through the mist covered countryside as the sun breaks over the trees. They’re that furry friend you can snuggle up with on the sofa when you get home after a long day at work. That buddy that will end your first fortnight of loneliness in a heartbeat. Just make sure you get a proper dog. One that can swim and run and bark and all that stuff, not one that can fit in a handbag or a teapot.

Interesting Entertainment Choices

You might not get the same amount of entertainment choices as you did in the city, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s like when you stare at a menu in an upscale restaurant; you become paralyzed by the various choices but end up ordering the same thing you always get.

When you first move to the country, you might think there isn’t that a lot going on. But with a bit of research you’ll find many opportunities to choose from. You may even find yourself going to all sorts of things you wouldn’t normally do. Farmers Markets, craft fairs, Morris dancing by the river, build a boat, fairs, yard sales, sitting in a park to watch a film that came out seven years ago. All of it will get you excited, which is partly because you will be a part of the community. 

Parking is Never an Issue

When you’re in a city, people park in a very orderly fashion. It’s usually quite organized, but that’s because everyone is scared of meter maids and traffic wardens giving them a parking ticket. This doesn’t happen in the countryside. Parking regulations aren’t as strict and you can usually just park anywhere alongside the road – as long as your vehicle isn’t blocking traffic. 

Yes, the countryside has its downsides, but we’d still recommend it to everyone and anyone. It’s not perfect, and time moves a little slower than you might be used to. But at least you don’t have to get up and start your day in a rush or standing on a cramped subway train platform.