Curious About Rural Living

Julie928 · ‎04-08-2013

I'm hoping I might be able to get opinions from those of you who live in the country. I'd like to start by saying I love my house. I love my yard. We put so much of our heart and soul (not to mention pocketbooks) into making this place one we love. Then the neighborhood started to change. The middle-aged people moved away, the elderly ones passed away. The young families started moving in. Don't misunderstand ~ I don't hate kids, but the noise ~ the constant screaming, crying, toy banging, radio blasting ~ I feel like I'm living next to a day care center. It's depressing. Their driveway runs alongside our house and they are always set up in the driveway, be it for playtime, doggie time, barbeques, you name it. They have a huge backyard and are always in the driveway, just outside our windows. I have dogs, but the neighbors let their dogs bark CONSTANTLY outside our window. I've talked to them about the dogs several times. My husband has talked to them more than once. It's everyday, on and off all day. Their garage is basically a playroom (also about 20 feet from our house). I've been looking online at properties on 10 or more acres. It's a huge move and would be a huge change for us so I am curious as to what those of you think of this lifestyle. What are the pros and cons. I simply don't know what to do. I love this place and the thought of leaving it makes me sad. But I need peace ~ desperately. Any advice? Thanks, all!

hoosieroriginal · ‎03-04-2012

I live in the county, right outside my town. I feel like I'm in the country, but only 15 minutes from town. Our road is mainly older people - homes are pretty far away from each other. I love it! I have great neighbors. I don't think I could handle all of that noise either - really sad when people have to leave their beautiful homes because of the noise level in their neighborhoods. Country living is great - but you can have problems there too. We have a couple of good ole boys on our road and they sometimes race up and down the road in their "big trucks". But all-in-all, not bad at all.

CareBears · ‎08-30-2015

@Julie928 We were in a smiliar situation, we had lived in our home for 14 years and absolutely loved it, but the neighborhood changed for us also, things started being stolen out of our yard, the comings and goings of the neighbors at all hours of the day & night, we went from loving our home to hating to live there, we now live in a town of about 2500 people. small local grocery store, library, VFW, 1 local restuarant, a couple of gas stations, feed store, a few other small businesses but that is it, the nearest McDonalds for example is 25 minutes away, at first it was hard to get used to, but as the time has gone by we cannot ever think of moving back to the city. The only thing we have really changed in our lives is to plan things out further in advance as it is not so convenent to run to the local stores for this and that anymore, but when the only noise I hear during the day when the windows are open is the birds singing or the children laughing in the neighborhood, I thank the heavens above for what led us to this point in our lives, I have truly become a country girl!

Wricardos · ‎03-26-2010

We live on 2 acres and our neighbors are close enough but not too close. We have private back yard and our dogs (3) run in a fenced acre. Our yard is a manacured grass with beautiful shade and evergreen trees. Wouldn't ever trade it for "city" life again. We are also within 1.5 miles from grocery and a hospital.

Good luck in figuring it out.

Tucker

aoldgirl · ‎11-10-2015

Hi, I understand your concerns completly. I live in rural VA. I have 6 acres, mostly trees. This being said I will tell you what I love and what I miss, see if that helps you. I love the silence, No noise, no trains, planes, cars going by, no kid noises. I love the darkness at night, no street lights, no car lights, no neighbors lights on. I love my house and yard also. What I'm not crazy about , and what I miss not being in a suburb, Its a long way to health care, also its a long way to shopping, maintaince on the land that we live on, ie: trees need cutting down and grass cutting and because others near by think they can shoot guns on their acreage, that noise is nerve racking. The neighbors we have all respect each others privacy. Getting things delivered can be a challenge. I wouldn't want to live any where else.

ballyk · ‎03-09-2010

I live on 20 acres 6 miles from town in a rural area. Love the relative quiet and no close neighbors. That's the good. We have no Internet access other than satellite dish, tv is direct tv or dish, we had to buy a $600 cell booster to get a signal in the house and still none in the driveway. Forget "cutting" the cord. Fortunately there is a town 60 miles away for limited cultural events and interesting restaurants. Otherwise it's 3 hours to the closest Costco, Nordstrom, major sports events etc. There is a hospital in town but I could only find 1 Dr accepting new patients a few years ago. It took 3 months to get an appointment with one of 2 dentists that take my medicare dental insurance. It's very pretty and peaceful here but there are tradeoffs. Depends what is important to you.

PurpleBunny · ‎03-09-2010

@Julie928

Argh. I hear ya. I have done a ton of work on my garden, my windowboxes and my patio to make it a beautiful, relaxing outdoor space. My next door neighbor sits outside and smokes 24 hours a day so I can't sit out there or leave open my windows. And the rest of the times he's out there with his four-year-old who just constantly likes to scream and squeal at the top of her lungs while he chats away on the cell phone - oblivious. I was Always very conscious to make sure that my kids were considerate of the neighbors, and now that it's "my turn" to relax, I only want the same consideration.

( \_/ )
(='x'=)
( " )_( " )

Snowpuppy · ‎03-09-2010

Why 10 acres ? You dont have to maintain/mow all 10. Most people only maintain 1-3. You still have to pay taxes on the rest.

You learn to grocery shop differently, I stock a deep pantry and a freezer. There's no running to the corner store, there isn't one. I'm not a die hard shopper so the drive to a real mall isn't a big deal to me. UPS is my friend!

Power outages can last days so you'll learn about generators and living with propane fuel. Most people also have a secondary heat source like a fireplace or wood stove.

Everyone that works has a long commute if you need a job that pays anything.

tobe · ‎07-09-2012

I love the country! We had lived in town in a two story historic home for 35 years. Then, slowly things began to change. Older neighbors died and younger ones moved in. No more quiet neighborhood. Cars drove too fast down our street, noise was constant. The 4th of July was a nightmare with kids out in the street throwing firecrackers into our yard and street until the city cut off time at midnight. In time, we lost our good next door neighbor to a bunch of hoodlums, with coming and going all the time. They kept dogs chained in their yard and starving. We threw food over the fence to feed them, and I found a home for one of them. In the house behind us, there moved in a 20 yr. old drummer. He got so loud one afternoon that I went over and knocked on his garage door to nicely tell him to be quiet. He came ungluded! Thankfully, in the meantime, we had bought 18 acres 15 miles away and had built a one room cabin, thinking we would stay in our historic home and use this for a get away. When this drummer started cussing and carrying on, I said I had had enough. I grabbed my cats and right then and there went to the country, telling my husband that we were moving! I have never been happier!

software · ‎06-08-2016

I feel your pain, I'm in the same situation. Loud cars, loud music, kids screaming, sirens, train whistle, barking dogs-- no peace here, but like you, I love my house. Before my husband passed, we had our property in the country, 6 acres and a modest home. I had to sell it. I didn't want to live there without him. I don't regret it and it's 4 years later.

You may have to give up conveniences, work may be farther away. And trust me, there can be inconsiderant neighbors anywhere. Moving to the country is no guarantee.

And 10 acres is nice, depending on how your house sits on the property. If you are again close to a property line, you may end up in the same situation.

I've been searching the realty websites and dreaming.

@Julie928