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June 26, 2004 A lot of people want to move into the country. It is the dream of many people to go back to the simpler, rural life. However, just like I was talking to a friend the other day, they often don't understand all the implications of country living. In Wyoming, most of us live in what people from a big city would consider country. Our 'largest town in Northeast Wyoming' is only 15,000 people. The town I live near is 100 people. That's pretty country. So what is it about country living that isn't really great? For one thing, the long distances. I drive 40 miles one way, each day, to work. Of course, some people in LA do as well, and thier drive is complicated by traffic. Mine is only complicated by deer, and in the winter, icy, snowy roads. For another thing, try to get people to come out and fix something like a broken water pipe or a plumbing problem. Even if you wanted to pay them, their fee plus so much a mile, you may have to wait for them to schedule in that long drive down. Groceries. There is no grocery store any closer than 30 miles, so, when you go shopping you had better get everything you need in one trip or do without until the next trip to town. No jetting down to the corner store. Activities. When I was in a martial arts class, the hour and a half class was actually four hours out of my day by the time I made the almost hour drive back and forth. Even a simple trip to the bank takes an hour and a a half. You have to plan to do as much as you can with each trip to town. Wear and tear on cars. There is no walking, no car pooling, everything is too far away and everyone's schedules are too different. However, there are benefits. It is quiet, there are few people, and a lot of wildlife. Actually, they can be a blessing and curse. I've lost a lot of garden to rabbits and turkeys, and a lot a trees to deer. But, hey, they were here first. Actually, I like the rural life, but somethings relators and others paint too rosy a picture of it. It often isn't all fun and games, but a lot of learning to do a lot of things by ourselves. We become very self-sufficient. ------------ About the author: CV Rhoades was born and raised on a ranch near Clearmont, Wyoming. She and her husband Richard live there and raises Texas Longhorn Cattle. She has two children, Paul and Sabrina. She has five books published, Seasons on a Ranch, Strike Like Lightning, Conceptual Self Defense, Beyond the Black Belt and Wyoming Ninja. Email: rcrhoades@rangeweb.net Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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