The countryside is a beautiful place, and some people thrive living in a more rural environment. The global pandemic of the early 2020s created a shift in attitudes towards living in more isolated areas as our daily pace slowed down and we started to spend more time at home. Some people may have grown up in a rural community and loved some aspects of it but have chosen to move to a larger town or city for convenience and a more comprehensive range of options for events and activities.
For people who have experienced both country living and city life, there is sometimes the desire to have some middle ground, such as a town close to rolling countryside but with good transport links to the closest city.
The shift in acceptance of remote working means that many people no longer have to factor their commute to work into their choice of where to live, which means you can still have a job based within the city with a city wage while working from a stunning country cottage. If you are only expected to go back to your shared office once a month or even once a week, a longer commute can undoubtedly be considered if it’s not part of your daily routine.
Sense of community
Living in a smaller town or village does allow you to embrace the community around you. If you only have a handful of local shops to purchase your groceries and other necessities, you are likely to bump into the same people routinely and get to know them. Most smaller communities often consist of families that have lived in the same area for generations, so make sure you introduce yourself warmly and let them know that you will be respectful of an area that is dear to their hearts and history.
Lots of smaller towns and villages have brilliant events that will feature local traditions, food, and art. They can be a great way to learn more about where you live and see what hobbies and interests people have.
Cleaner air & beautiful scenery
One of the reasons many people want to escape city life is the increasing health issues we are discovering from living in congested and overcrowded areas, with some studies showing higher rates of asthma in children in urban areas. The health risks of city life are a good enough reason for many people to swap their readily available sushi for the sheepdog whistles and move away from pollution.
The clean air also comes hand in hand with beautiful scenery, which means each season is a lovely experience, and due to the abundance of nature, even a walk you take every day can show you new aspects of your surroundings.
A slower pace of living
Living in a more isolated environment means that you have to plan a bit more. You will need store cupboard essentials and ideally a well-stocked freezer if there is no twenty-four-hour supermarket you can quickly get to as there might be in a city environment. Having to plan and store the essentials of your home means no last-minute rushing around and a better appreciation of when, how and what you eat.
Being surrounded by nature also helps you slow down and appreciate your surroundings. If your rural community members have embraced you, you will want to make sure you spend time getting to know the people you come across when walking to the local shop.
If you have a family with children, there are also some great points of rural living for them. The likelihood is that they will have smaller school/class sizes, so your child is more likely to get one-on-one attention from a teacher than in a larger school. Your child becomes more of an individual than another number in a register, which can be an excellent platform for learning. Raising your children around nature is also great for their mental health and appreciation of the world around them. Who wouldn’t want a childhood filled with tree climbing and adventures?
There are pros and cons to a rural way of life as with anything in life. For some people, this can be the ideal place to live, but there are definitely things to consider if you are used to a life filled with more convenience.
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