A few reasons to love rural America

[djheater]

Just got back from my Mom's in rural Arkansas. She has a dairy goat hobby farm, she's fostering 75 kids and has her own herd of 25 or so, along with 25 Chickens, 3 dogs, and a bunch of cats... oh and a peacock.

1) The original anti-consumerists. Not going into town is an objective for many. The less one goes into town the better one is doing.

2) Essential cherished freedoms are preserved. You can build, destroy, burn, or remodel to your hearts content. No beaureaucratic codes or officiants to worry about. You just can't build a 30' fire in the suburbs without some jerk coming along trying to put it out.

3) Space. My ability to engage in hobbies that genuinely interest me is limited by the space I have available in the suburbs. Imagine a couple of outbuildings one could use for workshops. The first things that come to mind are a home theatre and all-grain brewing setup.

4) Genuine neighborliness. I honestly think it's far easier to be good neighbors with 20+ acres and some barbed wire between you and them

5) My children can run wild, barefoot, and free, without a) stepping on broken glass b) being abducted and strangled by a pedophile. c) being bullied at the local park by teenagers who should really have a job.

 

[Schadenfroh]

barefoot

Dont do that near a farm unless you want them to get hookworms.

 

[Descartes]

Coming from a relatively small town (Tulsa) and growing up running along the pastures of my grandfather's family farm in Dodge City, I know what you mean. There's definitely something to be said about the experience.

However, there's also something to be said about growing up near others as well. I grew up around both atmospheres, so I have an appreciation for the austerity of relative isolation and freedom, and I have an appreciation for the diversity and ecclectic nature of urban environments. I want my children to have the broadest exposure possible giving them the experience of the simple, the quiet, and the complex and noisy.

My solution? Live in the city and keep a vacation home in the country. I was lucky to have this growing up and I'm all the better for it.

Also, rural Arkansas can be very beautiful.

 

[Mo0o]

Kids need human interaction. It really isn't the same when "getting the neighborhood kids together" means 3 children, one of the named Cooter

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Descartes
Coming from a relatively small town (Tulsa) and growing up running along the pastures of my grandfather's family farm in Dodge City, I know what you mean. There's definitely something to be said about the experience.

However, there's also something to be said about growing up near others as well. I grew up around both atmospheres, so I have an appreciation for the austerity of relative isolation and freedom, and I have an appreciation for the diversity and ecclectic nature of urban environments. I want my children to have the broadest exposure possible giving them the experience of the simple, the quiet, and the complex and noisy.

My solution? Live in the city and keep a vacation home in the country. I was lucky to have this growing up and I'm all the better for it.

Also, rural Arkansas can be very beautiful.

Hopefully when my wife and I complete our education we can achieve sometihng similar to this... I live near Chicago and am constantly dissapointed in myself that I don't take the opportunity to enjoy the diverse cultural opprtunities available here. This year I have set out a plan to visit every major museum in the city and take in at least 3 stage shows. I think we should be doing that EVERY year. We'll see how it goes.

 

[blue1friday2]

A few reasons to hate rural America:

1. If you don't look like everyone else, people stare at you and assume that you are a drug addict, "up to no good", from planet Mars, don't speak English.
2. People with rebel flags in the back of their pick-ups.
3. No museums, opera houses, restaurants, job opportunities.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. Just putting in my two cents, you don't have to listen.

 

[Reckoner]

When I reach my late 60s, I'd like to retire to Montana. It looks beautiful out there.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: blue1friday2
A few reasons to hate rural America:

1. If you don't look like everyone else, people stare at you and assume that you are a drug addict, "up to no good", from planet Mars, don't speak English.
2. People with rebel flags in the back of their pick-ups.
3. No museums, opera houses, restaurants, job opportunities.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. Just putting in my two cents, you don't have to listen.

4. Farm welfare.

 

[RichUK]

No thanks, i'd hate rural anything.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You forgot to append to #3 that you can grow an endless supply of grain.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: blue1friday2
A few reasons to hate rural America:

1. If you don't look like everyone else, people stare at you and assume that you are a drug addict, "up to no good", from planet Mars, don't speak English.
2. People with rebel flags in the back of their pick-ups.
3. No museums, opera houses, restaurants, job opportunities.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. Just putting in my two cents, you don't have to listen.

In defense of the "rural lifestyle."

1. Not true. Personality and attitude are 99% of what your neighbors will judge you by. The golden rule actually works out here.

2. How does this harm you? And how is this any different from "urban" areas that have "1-800-eat-sh1t" bumper stickers and other crap?

3. True - but most rurals area are only a decent drive from a metro area that *does* have these thing. If anything, these things are appreciated more by rural dwellers. There are tons of "city-slickers" who can probably walk to the nearest museum, opera house, community theatre, etc, but have never once been there.

I live in a semi-rural area, but I wish my job didn't require a commute to the city, or I'd be living even further out in the country. Some place where I can't even see my closest neighbor's house.

 

[Pepsi90919]

rural Ontario is great. however, lack of high-speed internet is enough to keep me from moving.

 

[notfred]

6) A dairy farm is an awesome place to meet women.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: blue1friday2
A few reasons to hate rural America:

1. If you don't look like everyone else, people stare at you and assume that you are a drug addict, "up to no good", from planet Mars, don't speak English.
2. People with rebel flags in the back of their pick-ups.
3. No museums, opera houses, restaurants, job opportunities.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. Just putting in my two cents, you don't have to listen.

you've watched too many movies...quit stereotyping everything...

 

[Svnla]

OP, where in AR? I have some friends in AR, good folks.

Did you meet any barefoot/no makeup/teeth missing/hairy legs gal? If so, send her my phone numbers...

Honestly, not sure I want to live in small town/rural area. Not a lot of things to do for fun except fish/hunt/mud sliding/pig calling.


"shooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww" .

 

[1sikbITCH]

Originally posted by: blue1friday2
A few reasons to hate rural America:

1. If you don't look like everyone else, people stare at you and assume that you are a drug addict, "up to no good", from planet Mars, don't speak English.
2. People with rebel flags in the back of their pick-ups.
3. No museums, opera houses, restaurants, job opportunities.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. Just putting in my two cents, you don't have to listen.

1. Why would you care what other people think of you?
2. Do you stare at people with rebel flags and assume they are up to no good?
3. The lack of artsy-fartsy crap is actually a selling point for some people.
I agree about the lack of work, but that goes hand in hand with the desired peace and tranquility of being cut off from the rest of the world. And with cellphones and internet, it is getting easier to be able to work from a remote location anyhow.

I still wouldn't live in a farmland environment. Too wide open and flat for me. Up in the mountains with a nice big river or lake nearby is more my style.

 

[Bryophyte]

Raising kids in the country is great. I'm really glad I'm able to share this with my kids. I was raised in the country and never wanted my kids to live in the city/suburbs. It's a fine thing to spend an afternoon with your kids in the garden or greenhouse, walk around your own pond, hike in your own forest, listen to the frogs and coyotes singing in the evening, gather eggs from your own hens, and feel safe letting your kids play in the yard with your dogs.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Originally posted by: Svnla
Not a lot of things to do for fun except fish/hunt

For some, that is enough.

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn

Originally posted by: Svnla
Not a lot of things to do for fun except fish/hunt

For some, that is enough.

Hell yeah!

 

[MrMaster]

I grew up in the country. Closest town with a population of 445 (470 now!) is 5 minutes away. after that is population 10,000 which is 15 minutes away.

It sucks.

1. THERE ARE NO JOBS PEOPLE!!! Unless you like farming or working in a factory but certainly not enough white collar jobs.
2. My parents still don't have broadband.
3. If you actually like to fish and hunt, which I don't, then growing up my choices were to drink or smoke pot. Not what I call a lot of options.
4. Growing up in a secluded area you don't get to meet too many people or experience a lot of different things. You're a hick and it shows when you go to a city.

Great to vacation horrible place to live.

 

[MrMaster]

double post

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: Descartes
Coming from a relatively small town (Tulsa) and growing up running along the pastures of my grandfather's family farm in Dodge City, I know what you mean. There's definitely something to be said about the experience.

However, there's also something to be said about growing up near others as well. I grew up around both atmospheres, so I have an appreciation for the austerity of relative isolation and freedom, and I have an appreciation for the diversity and ecclectic nature of urban environments. I want my children to have the broadest exposure possible giving them the experience of the simple, the quiet, and the complex and noisy.

My solution? Live in the city and keep a vacation home in the country. I was lucky to have this growing up and I'm all the better for it.

Also, rural Arkansas can be very beautiful.

Agreed about rural Arkansas. My cousins have a place near the Missouri border and it is quite beautiful out there.

 

[iversonyin]

98. No social interaction except for ATOT.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: blue1friday2
A few reasons to hate rural America:

1. If you don't look like everyone else, people stare at you and assume that you are a drug addict, "up to no good", from planet Mars, don't speak English.
2. People with rebel flags in the back of their pick-ups.
3. No museums, opera houses, restaurants, job opportunities.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but I personally wouldn't want to live there. Just putting in my two cents, you don't have to listen.

1) Where did you get this idea from? Sure if you have 20 piercings on your face you might be looked at funny...but not if you don't "look like everyone else".

2) If you didn't know, there is rural land in other parts of the US besides the southeast. :roll:

3) No resteraunts? You are just making stuff up now aren't you?

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: MrMaster
I grew up in the country. Closest town with a population of 445 (470 now!) is 5 minutes away. after that is population 10,000 which is 15 minutes away.

It sucks.

1. THERE ARE NO JOBS PEOPLE!!! Unless you like farming or working in a factory but certainly not enough white collar jobs.
2. My parents still don't have broadband.
3. If you actually like to fish and hunt, which I don't, then growing up my choices were to drink or smoke pot. Not what I call a lot of options.
4. Growing up in a secluded area you don't get to meet too many people or experience a lot of different things. You're a hick and it shows when you go to a city.

Great to vacation horrible place to live.

1. My spouse is an electrical engineer who designs semiconductors. He has a great job that pays well.
2. Ok, you've got me there, no broadband. But we could get it if we wanted it now. We just don't care for the choices we have right now. We are on the backside of a hill. Other neighbors have more choices for broadband.
3. We don't really care for fishing or hunting. We are too busy to do those activities anyway. Living in the country keeps you pretty busy.
4. My kids meet plenty of other kids at school.

Living in the country doesn't always mean living hours and hours from civilization. We live about 20 minutes from the edge of a major metropolitan area (Portland Metro.) And yet I can't see or hear my nearest neighbors.