My name is Travis, and I’ve been a rural resident for ten years, and moving to a small town is the best decision I have ever made.
That doesn’t mean it was an easy decision to make. Choosing the nomadic lifestyle meant that I’d be away from my extended family members, my nana, and her famous chicken pot pie.
It can be extremely stressful for anyone thinking about settling in rural America, especially without the right information.
Here are a few things I knew before moving
Traveling hours for food or shopping: Online shopping isn’t as popular. There’s a superstore around every corner in the city, or there’s a website to order online.
I had to travel, LOL! To find a grocery store. While this isn’t true for a very small town, it was a journey if you live on a farm far from the. When I needed some groceries or pizza back in the city, I ordered some online or drove a short distance to a mall.
The total opposite of what I experienced living in a small town. It’s a norm in small towns, especially in remote areas, to drive a great distance for food, shopping, entertainment, and more.
In some areas, the drive can be as long as 3hrs. And on those days when I had particular cravings, I had to go to another town to have a burrito from a particular food joint.
Limited Public Transportation: Unlike the big cities where public transportation was how we got around, you’ll need to buy your own wheels—A car, bike, bicycle, to move around. The public transportation system in small towns isn’t impressive at all. And I understand why. The small population doesn’t demand heavy public transportation, so everyone just drives their car.
For the first six months of going rural, getting around was a big challenge. I had to rent a car a few times, which was quite expensive. But I soon got a vehicle, and moving around became easier.
It’s not necessarily safer: Don’t get me wrong, small-town residents are lovely people. They are kind, friendly and everyone knows everyone. But as with every place with different people, one or two persons just exist to cause others to harm.
There’s a preconceived notion that small towns are safer than big cities. And before I moved down here myself, I heard people never locked their doors whenever they left home. From my experience, I would say that, although there may be no elaborate kidnappings or drug cartels in small towns, it’s not exactly crime-free. People still get mugged now and then.
Times are changing, and crimes are happening across all geographical areas (big cities or small towns). You must prioritize your safety. Lock your doors when you leave home and report any suspicious activity to the local police. Enough talk on the shocking revelations. Let’s move over to the things that rocked my boat when I moved here.
Nature: Let’s face facts, small towns aren’t as populated or developed as the big cities. And with the large expanse of undeveloped land and greenery, there’s inspiration coming from all angles.
There’s enough space to own a garden and plant as many flowers or crops as possible. I have a full view of my garden from my home office. And it’s refreshing to have something that beautiful to look at when working. For me, it’s a constant stream of inspiration and creativity. And most Saturdays, I and a few friends go over to an open field for a picnic.
Nomad Internet: I’d be honest, internet connection was an issue when I first moved. “Crappy rural internet” is a thing. Well, until I found Nomad Internet. I heard about Nomad Internet from a friend who travels a lot, the RV kind. Nomad Internet is primarily for on the road travelers and people who live in rural areas.
At first, I was skeptical about them, but after doing some researches and read couple of reviews online, I knew I had to give them a try. I ordered my router using the code WELCOME25 for a $25 discount. It arrived within five days, easy to setup, and my internet problems were immediately resolved. I stream on multiple devices, work from home, video chat with my nana and send large files using my Nomad Internet router.
Peace and a slower pace of living: I preferred a more relaxed and quiet life. The hustle and bustle of the big city weren’t my favorite. I’m more relaxed, happy, and less anxious.
Conclusion
Small town living isn’t for everyone. I wish more people understood this. I’ve had friends who came to rural America and decided they loved rural living. Do your research before moving to a small town. If you have to, test out the lifestyle before permanently moving your belongings and family.
We love living in small towns: the fresh air, simple life, and over-caring neighbors. Nomad internet has made my experience better. I can keep in touch with family, take classes and earn a living.
I have always been interested in those people who voluntarily want to move to the countryside. I was born and raised here and all I want is to go to a big city to great opportunities. But my parents say that I just don’t understand the true meaning of life yet and I need to grow up to it. Reading the Country Nomad Blog, I learned a lot of stories of people who have a successful business in rural areas. It’s amazing to me.
I found this article to be quite disappointing. While the title suggests that it will provide insights into what to expect when moving to rural America, the content falls short of providing any real value to readers. The author spends a lot of time on generalizations and stereotypes about rural life that do little to prepare someone for the realities of living in a rural community.
Furthermore, the author does not provide any specific examples or anecdotes to illustrate the points being made. The content feels superficial and lacks the depth and detail that readers would expect from an article with this title. I was left feeling like the article was written by someone who had never actually lived in a rural community and was simply repeating common stereotypes and cliches.
Overall, I would not recommend this article to anyone looking for genuine insights into what to expect when moving to rural America. The content is shallow, lacks specificity, and relies too heavily on stereotypes and cliches. There are better resources available for those who are truly interested in understanding the challenges and opportunities that come with living in a rural community.
I even felt a little sad when I came to the words about Grandma’s chicken pie… I also miss my loved ones, but also, like the author of the article, I consider my move to the countryside to be the best solution. Without a car and the Internet, of course, it would be almost impossible to enjoy life, and there would be no opportunity to earn money for this life either. In any case, the first year is always difficult, but if you dream about it, then don’t be afraid of anything, everything will work out!
I really liked the article, especially the ending where the author say that you should do research before moving to rural areas. Indeed, such a drastic decision should be well-informed one, so you should consider all aspects of life before officially moving. The author lists the most crucial moments which could make living much harder for a person who is used to city lifestyle. I find mentioning limited transportation and necessity to drive for a long time for groceries most important, because this is actually the very base of living. So I find the article very helpful.
Rural America is a wonderful place to live with its charming landscapes, close-knit communities, and peaceful pace of life. However, there are some important considerations to make when you move to this area. It’s essential to understand that rural America might have limited access to basic amenities like good schools, quality healthcare, and reliable internet. Despite these challenges, it’s still a beautiful place to live and settle down, especially if you’re looking for a change of scenery and a more relaxed lifestyle. Just be prepared for some changes and to adapt to a different way of living, and you’ll be sure to have a wonderful time in rural America!