Moving from the city to the country

Photo by Dana Meek

So you’re thinking about leaving the rat race. Bravo! You embody the American spirit of pioneering. Just make sure you do your homework before you put the “for sale” sign on the front stoop. Here are five things to consider before making your decision.

First, subscribe to the newspaper of the town you’re thinking of relocating to. So many people fall in love with small town life while on vacation, but have no idea what living rurally is really like. You may even be able to subscribe to the paper – usually a weekly – online, though don’t be surprised if you can’t. While big city papers seem to be dying out daily the small town paper is alive and well. And often only in print. Pay attention to what the county commissioners or town council are dealing with to get an idea of how the area may or may not be growing. Check out the ads – these will be your go-to retailers and service providers. And peruse everyone’s favorite section, the sheriff’s blotter. While folks in small towns use it as fodder for over-the-fence gossip, it will give you a good idea of what kind of crime you might be dealing with. Yes, it does exist in small towns.

If you have children, inspecting the schools is a must-do right up front. Greatschools.net is a good resource for weighing your potential school against the one your children already attend; be sure to read the comments as they can be a more reliable indicator than just the statistics. But don’t neglect visiting the schools in person. Call ahead to make an appointment with the principal and school counselor and have handy a list of concerns you want to get more information about. Get a tour of the schools, find out what extra- curricular activities are available and take notes. Small schools often mean better student-to-teacher ratios and strong community involvement. For example, the county school my children attend has a retired astro-physicist in charge of the Gifted and Talented program. An in-person visit can provide details a website might miss.

Are you still working? Then it’s imperative that you can find work, or that your business can survive the move. In small towns, the competition is fierce for the jobs that exist and many people work two or three positions to be able to make a decent living. Or they commute to a larger town or city - by car, as mass transit isn’t normally available in rural outposts – for their job. Some families even endure having one earner live in the city during the week, only coming home on weekends. Of course, with the Internet, more and more people can work long distance as “lone eagles”. But beware: if you haven’t been doing business over the internet for at least three to five years you may be taking a great risk by moving away from a customer base. Be sure you have strong networks to link into such as chambers of commerce or professional groups that can use your services. You may need to plan to spend one day a week in a nearby city to network, and build and visit clients. But that’s a small price to pay for the glories of rural living.

Visit in every season. Again, spending an idyllic summer day in the countryside does not begin to give you the full picture of what life is like as a year-round resident. Often, small towns virtually close up off-season, so if a long, quiet winter isn’t your cup of tea, the country may not be the place for you. And weather can vary. While the mountains are heavenly in the summer, the winters are longer and the springs can be windy and muddy. The temperate climate of a southern winter turns downright brutal to some during long steamy summers. So do your due diligence and visit in the heart of each season if possible.

Finally, consider renting before you buy. First of all, you’re not locked in as tightly with a rental as with a property you own, which can take far longer to sell than you may be used to in the city or suburbs. And it allows you to really get to know the area before you make a commitment. For some, living in the wilderness, off the grid in a log cabin sounds inviting until you’re slapped with the reality of running your car into the ground driving kids to and from town a couple of times a day on rutty dirt roads. Not to mention the cost of gas and personal time. Yet, living in town poses its own challenges, such as junkers in your neighbor’s yard and no real ordinance to rule against it. So while moving twice is never a fun option, it may prove to be a very wise choice when making a move as monumental as from city to country.

Leaving the city for the country can be extremely rewarding. Especially if you truly know what you’re adding and what you’re leaving behind.