What City Folks Don’t Realize About Rural Living

So, for the past few years, it seems like it’s been growing more and more to yearn for the countryside, for rural living, so dirt roads, big porches, enough space in the house for a guest room, chickens, growing vegetables, making bread, you name it. You see people do it, there’s articles about it, and there’s enough TikTok videos constantly showing up, too. Plus, the idea of no honking, no neighbors on the other side of the wall, no sirens at 2 am, just quiet does sound pretty nice. It’s the simple life, right?

Sure, it sounds great and all, but of course, real rural life is not just pretty sunsets and enamel mugs of coffee. There are a lot of downsides to it, too. Like, it’s things that you only deal with because you live in a rural area. But what exactly?

The Basic Stuff Just isn’t Basic Anymore 

In a city, turning on a tap, flipping a light switch, or ordering food at 10 pm just feels standard, right? Well, out in the country, those basic things sit on a more fragile system. Well, you don’t get the luxuries like GrubHub and Uber typically, but the actual basics are something you might not get or get less of. 

For example, it’s scary to think, but yeah, power cuts last longer. Like, a lot longer. Plus, storms actually mean something, like power cuts, no internet, and roads being blocked off due to fallen trees. Speaking of which, that one road into town can flood, freeze, or get blocked, and sometimes that means you’re stranded until the local government decides to take it into their own hands (or a resident or you might). But there’s no more convenience, there’s not much comfort either. See the problem?

You Have to Think About the Water

Which, the concept alone probably sounds absolutely bizarre, right? But it’s true, for some areas, the water is just personally yours. Meaning that it might come from a private well, and that means there’s a pump, a pressure tank, maybe filters, and a whole system quietly doing the most in the background. So it’s not as simple as just getting water from the city, from the city’s reserves (but not all rural areas and water systems are the same, of course). 

So, if something goes wrong, there isn’t a number to call for the city to sort it out; it’s on the homeowner to figure out what just happened. Which is pretty scary. It’s not too uncommon for homeowners to have to look into a well pump service, either. Again, you’re basically left up to your own devices here, but at least theres services out there to help. 

The Whole Community Aspect is Different Too

In a big city, it’s easy to disappear. In a rural area, well, not so much. Honestly, it’s not too different for suburban areas either. But anyways, neighbors notice things, ask questions, and remember faces. That can feel strange at first, especially for people used to being completely anonymous on their street. But it’s honestly a good thing. Sure, theres the community aspect in big cities too, but in rural areas, it’s just different, you might not be treated like family, but you’re treated like the next best thing.

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