When you’re used to living in a well populated, very noisy, and incredibly urban center, the idea of moving to the country sounds like a dream! It’ll be quieter, with a lot more space, and the air is likely to be a lot cleaner too!
So you take the plunge, find a place, and plan your move. And for a lot of people, the further away from the city, the better! But when you’re used to living in the city, the realities of living in the countryside may not dawn on you until it’s too late.
Countryside, rural living is quite the challenge when you’re not used to it – and if you weren’t expecting any downsides from making such a dramatic change in your living environment.
But there can be quite a few to think about before you start packing up. Without a bit of forewarning and forward planning, they’re going to be incredibly challenging to try and live with.
As such, here are the kind of lifestyle changes you’ll need to anticipate when you’re thinking about moving to a more rural area.
It Might Be a Lot Lonelier
When you live in a rural area, you’ll usually see more land than people. Typically, that means you could go a whole day without speaking to anyone, especially if you live alone or you’ve found a spot in a houseshare with relative strangers.
If you’re moving with your family, you’re likely to only have them around while you get settled in, and that can cause a bit of unexpected cabin fever too!
Of course, rural communities can often have social occasions that encourage everyone in the area to get together – but this isn’t guaranteed. Wherever it is you’re thinking of going, do a bit of research into the social scene, and check the calendar for local events.
Head onto Facebook to find groups where locals from the area and any surrounding towns can post their goings-on, and even introduce yourself ahead of time.
Ambient Sounds are Quite Different
What are you used to hearing at night in the city? Traffic, obviously, as well as people coming home from nights out, and those who own convenience stores and the like not closing until past 11pm.
These are quite specific sounds to get used to, and they probably help to get you off to sleep more than you think.
And when you move to a rural countryside location, these noises are going to be absent. That doesn’t mean the countryside is silent, not at all. But the sounds will be different, and that will take some getting used to.
You’ll likely feel your ears tuning into smaller, quieter sounds, like the sound of bugs (which can also get pretty loud, let us tell you!), wild animals, and the occasional car or truck going by.
When there are new sounds, and less background noise, the nights out in the country might feel a little more lonely and/or empty than you really like.
You’ll Probably See a Lot More Bugs!
And speaking of bugs, you’ll not only be hearing them a lot more than you’re used to. You’ll see quite a few more bugs flying or scuttering around as well.
Bees and wasps, spiders, ants, mosquitoes (depending on the climate), crickets and cicadas – bugs will be all over the place.
It’s nothing to panic about, but it might be something you need to prepare yourself to face. You could be finding a lot more flies around your food, whether or not you leave it out, and cobwebs will be a very common thing you have to dust away.
Healthcare is Often Harder to Access
Living somewhere more rural tends to be a bit healthier for you. The pace of living can be a bit slower, and many countryside residents often have lower levels of stress and anxiety. But even with these benefits, healthcare is still a risk factor when you move from the city to the country.
When you live in a rural area, you can go for miles and miles without seeing even a small clinic. The nearest town might have a drop-in center with the basics, but anything more than that will require long distance travel. And for many people, that’s simply not a safe way to live.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you’re out of healthcare options entirely. Even in an emergency, you can still have access to paramedic care and a first response, and Air Ambulance services can transport you or your loved ones long distance in half the time or less.
Rural Locations Can Affect Phone Signal and Wifi Connections
Finally, be aware that rural locations can make it hard to send messages, call loved ones, and even be online without a number of wifi disconnections.
You may want to get yourself a booster for your home, to make sure you can stay connected no matter your distance from the wifi cables or any nearby signal towers.
City to Country Living: Get Ready for a Change
When moving from the city to the country, you’re swapping a hyper connected and busy landscape for one that’s calmer, slower, and more spacious. But you’re also swapping one lifestyle for a totally contradictory one.
And for a lot of people, that’s harder to cope with than they first believe. So keep in mind the challenges above.
The sounds you’re used to hearing will completely disappear, essentially overnight, and that can be quite disruptive to your sleep pattern.
Similarly, if you’re in need of emergency care, you may have quite the distance to go before you get it.
And if you’re not a fan of bugs, there are going to be quite a few more of them around – and plenty will want to make their homes inside your house as well!
Get ready for these changes, especially if you’re not 100% on your decision to make such a move. You’ll have a much better chance to change your mind.
Photo by Pixabay
