I need 3 advantges and 3 disadvantages of living in the countryside, please answer my mail is urgent!! please

-- Maria Tricerri (mariatricerri@hotmail.com), July 01, 2001

Answers

Response to Countryside

I suppose this depends on the "countryside". Some of these may apply: Disadvantages: - inconvenience of distance, commuting distance, time and associated costs (fuel, repairs, wear)... distance may be to work, to services such as hospitals, schools, supplies, ect. - inconvenience of utilities (and perhaps higher costs)... you may need a septic system, no natural gas may be available, electricity, phone, cable, wells, ect. Advantages: - less traffic, noise, perhaps less pollution, lower taxes, lower property costs, physical space (perhaps for garden, ect), perhaps less crime, nature...

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), July 01, 2001.

Response to Countryside

Advantages:

1. Less pollution 2. Less traffic 3. Less people 4. Less noise

Disadvantages:

1. Distance from emergency assistance/hospitals 2. Distance from shopping/schools 3. Have to travel to borrow a cup of sugar

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), July 01, 2001.

Response to Countryside

A major advantage of living in the country is the QUIET! Whenever I have to spend any time in the city, I get so stressed out from the noise.

Another advantage of living in the country is the space - city living is much to crowded and cluttered.

Another advantage is the cleaner air - I have asthma, and living in the country is much healthier for me.

As far as I'm concerned, the only disadvantage of living in the country is that when you want pizza, you either have to drive into town to pick it up or make it yourself (which tastes better, anyway!) -- no pizza delivery! :-) But... I can live with that!

-- Cheryl McCoy (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), July 01, 2001.

Response to Countryside

Advantages: peace & serenity, freedom to pursue your life on your property (growing, planting , building , etc), lower assault type crime rate, less air and noise pollution.

Disadvantages: None that are not surmountable. With todays technology city convienences ( DSS, Electricity, Internet) are available even in rural areas to provide cultural entertainment. If someone truly "needed" immiediate access to city grade "cultural stimuli" the country probally wouldnt suit em anyhow. But to add a few "disadvantages" for you. Water supplies are less regulated than municipal areas, county police may be farther away than city officers if you need them, health services may be a longer distance (but with med flights longer distances do not impede the golden hour treatment window).

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 01, 2001.

Maria the 3 disadvantages 1)further to drive to work, 2)futher to town 3)no close neighbor. Oops those last two aren't disadvantages. No traffic or the sound of traffic. Your grandkids can play outside with the dogs and no worries about drive by shootings, or perverts.

-- Wynema Passmore (nemad_72039@yahoo.com), July 01, 2001.

It seems like most things listed have corresponding items on the other side of the ledger. The only thing I know of that's not compensated in some way is quality of internet connection. The further you are from a telephone switching station, the slower your connection speed is likely to be. From reading another thread here regarding Starband (dated 6-29), it seems satellite internet connections are not the answer... at least not yet.

I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), July 01, 2001.

Gary, when you move to the unrushed life in the country 28.8k to 56K can be handled with a cup of coffee and a porch break :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 01, 2001.

Maria, the biggest advantage to living in the country is that your neighbors are real, honest to God people, and you know them and their animals and their children and their problems and wishes and wants and projects, and they know yours. Secondly, we share tools, machinery, meat and vegetables and care of animals and children. Thirdly, we all pitch in to help each other in good times and bad. A disadvantage is there is no end to the work. You are just never through completely. Second, there is seldom as much money as there are plans and projects. Third, if you have animals and gardens and orchards, you will have death and failures. Hard to take but true none the less. Good Luck making your decision. Maureen

-- Maureen Stevenson (maureen@mtaonline.net), July 01, 2001.

There are no advantages to living in the country. Just stay right where you are.

-- paul (primrose@centex.net), July 02, 2001.

Ok, who the heck is this Paul guy???? And what planet did he just drop off of????

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), July 02, 2001.

Karen, I think Paul was making a joke!

-- Ardie (ardie54965@hotmail.com), July 02, 2001.

advantages: 1 I have my horses on my property 2 I have peace and quiet 3 people are more genuine, we have some great friends

disadvantages: 1 The distance to the nearest hospital I broke my wrist in 5 places and that 30 mile ride was the longest 2 Long commute time to work[40 miles one way} 3 picking kids up from school activities again the miles[20 miles to get to school]

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), July 02, 2001.

Paul, I agree. anyone who needs to ASK if there are advantages to living in the country, will make it worse for us when they arrive. This is the kind that will take offense when you simply go about your business spreading manure on your fields, and the smell surprises her.

No, there are no advantages to living in the country. It is a hard life. You are responsible for shoveling your own long driveway in any snowstorm. That wide open space is actually a threatening thing in the winter, when you are frozen into your house and unable to get help in an emergency. That wide open space means your neighbors cant see when your house is broken into and they cant hear you screaming when the gangs attack you at night. You think neighbors are more friendly in the country. LOL -you evidently havent lived out here. Out here, your neighbors are liable to be back-woods hicks whose preferred enjoyment is to throw empty beer bottles at your house as they drive by hollaring at 3 AM. Ever see the smashed mailboxes as you drive along in the country? This is from the roving gangs of country hick school kids. You dont want to be at their mercy, all by yourself in this wide open space. The last thing you want to do is to buy a peice of land to build a house on out here. The next thing that happens is you turn around, and you are in the middle of a subdivision.

The country is for cool-headed, self-reliant, experienced FARMERS. The country is for FARMING. Not for chickies like you who dont even know what the country is like.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 02, 2001.

My, my, my, daffodyllady, you sure do have a lather worked up!

I sure am glad I didn't get that sort of encouragement and name calling 6 or 7 years ago when *I* started seriously looking at becoming a homesteader.

Maria, it is a rather open-ended and vague question and I have to wonder why you're in such a hurry - what could possibly be "urgent" about making this sort of decision?

You need to clarify your goals and where you're at now before you can even hope to make this sort of decision, and it comes to you slowly at that, not in a flash.

"Advantages" and "disadvantages" are very personal things, very subjective, and we can't tell you what YOU might see as advantages or disadvantages if for no other reason than you haven't told us a thing about yourself or your situation or hopes or dreams.

"Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I can move the world"

Yes, but I would advise you not to try to move YOUR world until you are sure of just where it is you are standing now.

Hope you at least get enough from all this to clarify your position.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 02, 2001.

BTW, daffodyllady, I wonder where the heck you are at that "roving gangs of hick kids" break into people's houses and beat them to death? We occassionally get a smashed mailbox but I've yet to see a "roving gang of hick kids" doing anything worse than hanging out at the town square with a big mac in one hand and a Pepsi in the other. I don't think of them as hicks, either, which I suppose might label me as a hick myself. LOL!

There was a break in a few months back that caused quite a stir. It was a runaway kid and his girlfriend from another state, they broke into a house and ate some food out of the refrigerator.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 02, 2001.

dear maria, having lived in both country & city, I can tell you that country is much better. The quiet, ability to grow one's own food, the joy of hearing wildlife, insects, & all natural sounds is beyond description. The peace there feeds the soul. I always go back into town with a feeling of rejuvination. Living in the city, I'm always bombarded with noise, constant rules of not interferring with your neighbors rights, but, they can interfer with yours all they want. The cops can't catch them. The stress of living in the city drags a person down more & more each day. These are my feelings, I hope they help you.

-- tresa lamb (tresalamb@hotmail.com), July 02, 2001.

Although I'm sure you can figure it out for yourself, one of the disadvantages to living in the country is all these grumpy old farts who hang out at the general store and eyeball you something fierce when you come in for your specially-ordered case of tofu. ;-)

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), July 02, 2001.

Oh for pities sake, Sojourner, you messed it all up. Couldnt you tell I was just trying to preserve the country for those of us who truely treasure it? Sometimes, isnt it necessary to tell a few yarns to protect a greater truth?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), July 02, 2001.

I'm afraid I operate on only one level all the time - and that's utter frankness. I ALWAYS assume people mean what they say. Can't help it.

Guess I'll never learn ...

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 02, 2001.

The advantages are too many to list. The disadvantages: longer commute (gives me time to mentally organize), snow & mud a little deep even w/4wd (always have a good chain & boots), the "list" never ends (feels GOOD to cross items off the list).

True story: An accident happened a couple years ago. Our neighbor was killed by his bull, late at night, in the winter. My husband was hurt trying to help. The local volunteer fire/emt were here half the night & didn't leave until the fence was fixed. The next day the school nurse had the counselor see my son first thing. I don't think you'd ever see this & get the help in the city!!!

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), July 03, 2001.

3 advantages: peace and quiet, i can be boss part of the time, and eating mulberries this time of year. 3 disadvantages: its hard work, trying to do new things it seems i often have to do it wrong before i figure out how to do it right, and lack of money.

-- fred (fred@mddc.com), July 03, 2001.

This doesn't exactly answer your question, but our county has a nifty little pamphlet titles "The Code of Country Living" "A look at the realities of living in the countryside of rural ____ County". Perhaps the county of your choice, Maria, has a similar pamphlet. Ours covers the advantages & disadvantages mentioned above and much, much more. More people need to be realistic and more informed before making the move to a rural area. Jean

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), July 03, 2001.

Maria, I'd like to hear more about why you asked this question, and why it was so urgent.

-- Joy F [in So. Wisconsin] (CatFlunky@excite.com), July 03, 2001.

Jean, I'd be interested in some of the info. in that pamphlet you mentioned. Is there any way to post a short summary or get it online somehow?

cheers and thanks,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), July 03, 2001.

Our top 3 Disadvantages: 1) Higher insurance rates 2) Have to pay for a P O Box since we got tired of replacing it every Sunday after the bored kids played baseball with it - but at least I get my mail unopened now, the postman loved to read our magazines first 3) Traintracks - does not apply to every person These 3 are all I can think of as negative.

Our top 3 advantages: 1) No one bothers you, we have lived here 10+ years and have never met our neighbors - they don't like bikers even though we are quiet and keep our land like a golf course. 2) Quietness 3) Wild animals - presently we have 3 wild deer eating our fruit off the trees. I don't care, they must need it too so we can all share. We have 3 rabbits living in our garden, I feed them carrots. We have a armadillo living under our storage building, etc. When I visit my parents in the city my Mother is excited if she has a squirrel.

-- Viv in TX (kudzu1@webtv.net), July 03, 2001.

Maria! I was born & raised in the country & due to circumstances beyond my control was forced to live in the City for 20 years (of hell). Sorry but that is the only way that I can describe City living. Country living is the ONLY way to live bar none. My biggest nightmares are of having to live in a City, Suburb, or Town. I could possiblly live in a tiny village maybe! But their you are I guess you could call me an alternate thinker!!! I think this is the way God meant us to live, elsewise why would He have made meadows full of wildflowers, beautiful forests of every kind of tree, gardens brimming over with vegetables & fruits that money can't buy, fruit trees laden with luscious fruit just for the picking, blue skies, sunshine, wildlife in your back yard, Grow & raising all of your own fruits, vegetables, & meat. Knowing your living as close to nature as possible. This is simple living at it's best!!!!! Blessings in whatever decisions you make.

-- Jan Sears (jcsears@magma.ca), July 03, 2001.

one of my favorite advantages is you always know who's driving by just by the sound of their vehicle.

-- somebody (something@somewhere.com), July 04, 2001.

I was thinking of posting some of the Country Code of Conduct pamphlet - anyone along with Max that would be interested?

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), July 04, 2001.

Go for it! Only why not post it under a new thread? That way it'll be easier to find and more people who are interested (who may be ignoring this thread by now) will be likely to see it.

-- Sojourner (notime4@summer.spam), July 04, 2001.

yes please do submit your Country Code of Conduct pamphlet, but make it a separate thread so we will know where to find it.

-- Jan Sears (jcsears@magma.ca), July 04, 2001.