The COVID pandemic created a shift in how people saw a lot of things in their lives. For example, it led many people who were urban dwellers to opt for suburban or even rural living.
While a lot of things have gotten back to normal, you might still be in the process of questioning whether you’d like a change.
While rural living has its advantages, it’s not for everyone, especially if you’re coming from a big city.
The following are key considerations as you decide if you’re ready for country living.
Rural or Remote?
Rural and remote aren’t necessarily the same thing. Rural can mean that you live in a country environment, but you’re still likely to have amenities and resources nearby. For example, you could have a hospital and shopping area within a relatively short drive.
When you’re truly remote, you might have an hour or more of driving ahead of you to reach much of anything.
That can seem like a dream when you’re escaping the hustle and bustle of a big city, but not so much if you need something like emergency medical care.
Also, if you’re looking for a new job or you’re going to commute to your existing one, living rurally may be an option, whereas remote living might not be.
Can You Get Used to Driving?
If you live in a city, or sometimes even in the suburbs, you might not drive a lot. People in big cities tend not to even have cars because they have public transportation available.
If you’re moving out of the city, you need to budget for a car and get used to some pretty long drives.
Even picking up a cup of coffee can mean you’re driving 30 minutes or more, depending on your situation. There are some people who have to walk 10 minutes each way just to check their mail at the end of their driveway.
Can You Live Without Certain Conveniences?
Rural living means that most, if not all, of the conveniences you could be used to, are gone.
For example, you’re probably going to have little to no delivery options. That means you can’t get delivery food or grocery delivery.
As mentioned, you aren’t going to have access to public transportation, but you’re also probably not going to be able to find an Uber nearby.
You’ll have to plan your shopping trips in advance. You might go to the grocery store only every few weeks, as opposed to every day. Gone will be the days of picking up just what you need to make one meal.
You need to think far ahead and ensure that you get all of the supplies not only to make meals but also things like shampoo, toilet paper, and cleaning supplies.
You’ll eventually get used to planning ahead and making lists, and you’ll probably still be able to get Amazon deliveries, but you might not get two-day shipping, depending on where you are.
Having More Land Will Mean More Maintenance and Upkeep
If you’re moving to a remote area to have more land, that can feel freeing and exciting, but you’re also going to have to maintain it. That can mean that you’re doing the work yourself or paying someone to do it.
For example, if a tree falls across your driveway, you may be stuck at home until you can get rid of it.
You aren’t going to have municipal crews to come and clear it away like you would in the city.
Your Access to the Internet May Not Be Great
One reason the pandemic changed the lifestyle demands of a lot of people was that they were no longer physically tied to an office. They could work remotely, and as a result, many businesses have shifted to letting employees do this permanently.
If you work remotely, it can be great in some ways because you can decide where you want to live without worrying about your commute time. You do have to think about high-speed internet or the lack thereof in rural areas.
Many properties won’t have access to high-speed internet, so be mindful of this.
If you work from home, this will have to be a priority in your house hunt.
You might not even have cell reception where you live, so you might have to get a landline. Finally, do you like being at home and can you entertain yourself? You’re going to spend a lot of time at home if you move to a rural location, and some people feel like this is the biggest benefit of this lifestyle but know your personality beforehand.