Have you ever wished you could leave the bustling city life and move to the most rural area you could find? You’re not alone. Between the low cost of living, tight-knit community, and small-town charm, there’s major appeal to living in rural America.
Of course, like with all good things, there are some downsides too. While a day in the life of a resident in a rural area is different from person to person, there are also some shared experiences. Here’s a look at the daily routine of someone in the rural United States.
The Reality of the Commute
If you live in a rural area, your car will become your best friend. You can usually expect to drive 30 or 40 minutes or even an hour to get to your workplace, the grocery store, or just about anywhere else. Public transportation most likely won’t be an option.
Because of this, a big portion of any weekday for a rural America resident is spent driving. That means tacking additional time on to your morning and evening commutes, filing up your gas tank more frequently, and finding ways to make car rides more enjoyable. Being in the car is a great time to listen to podcasts or audiobooks so it feels less like wasted time.
That being said, if you’re a remote worker, you won’t have the same commute experiences. You’ll still likely spend more time in the car for other reasons. The good news is that driving in a rural area is usually not be as stressful as it driving in a big city. You won’t spend as much time starting and stopping in traffic.
Enjoying the Great Outdoors
Perhaps the best reason to be in a rural area of the U.S. is the outdoors. No matter what region of the U.S. you’re in, as a rural resident, you can expect to have easy access to the nature around you. Being packed into a New York City sky-rise or in the midst of the LA metro won’t give you the same kind of access to nature. You would likely have to drive a long distance and even then, you might only have a park that’s already packed with other residents.
When you live in a rural area, you probably don’t have to go far to experience nature. You probably have your own piece of paradise in your own backyard! Whether you’re going on a short walk, a hike, a swim, or even just reading a book outside, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy the outside in rural America.
If you do have a bit of your own land, you will also have so many options that you won’t have if you live in a busy city. You can invite friends over for a bonfire and yard games. You can plant a garden, grow your own food, and even have your own chickens (depending on where you live). You will also be able to give a better quality of life to a bigger dog that requires lots of exercise.
More Peace and Quiet
Cities can simply be too much for many people. All the people, noise, and traffic create stress. Escaping to rural life means you can enjoy a slower pace of life. It also means you can enjoy better air quality since rural areas are less polluted. In rural areas, simple everyday activities like going to the grocery store don’t have to be such major events like they would be in more densely populated areas where it’s impossible to find a parking spot at the grocery store. All of this makes for a more peaceful day-to-day life.
Living rural can also give you a greater appreciation for the little things in life. You won’t have easy access to the wide variety of clubs, bars, malls, and sporting events that a lot of people who are in busy cities spend their time at, but you can learn to appreciate the simple pleasures of a good book and your backyard garden.
More Positive Interactions
Although the quantity of people that are around you will be lower in a rural area, the quality of your interactions will probably be greater. Rural areas are known for being exceptionally welcoming, even to strangers. From the nearest grocery store to the local coffee shop, rural residents usually have friendly, positive interactions.
Because there are fewer people and conveniences than what bigger cities may enjoy, people learn to rely on one another and help each other out more. For example, if you’re in the middle of making dinner and realize that you’re a couple of eggs short, a quick trip to the store may not be an option. So instead, go to your neighbors. They may be a mile or two away, but in a rural location, that’s a neighbor!
Waiting for Slow Internet to Work
As we mentioned, there are definitely downsides to living in a rural area as well. The biggest one may be the slow internet. Whether you’re browsing social media, working from home, online shopping, or doing something else, the internet can be a major source of frustration.
But it doesn’t actually have to be this way. Fast, reliable internet for rural communities exists thanks to Nomad Internet. We believe that where you live shouldn’t determine the quality of your internet connection.
When you choose Nomad, you won’t have to compromise! You can have a rural lifestyle and the great internet. So whether you’re working, playing video games, or streaming, you will have a smooth experience with few interruptions. To get more information about our plans, get in touch with Nomad today!
Enjoy the Best of Rural Life
While living the rural life isn’t for everyone, it’s certainly a great option to have. It will definitely take some getting used to if you’ve spent your whole life living in big or medium-sized cities. But if you know what to expect, you can be set up to have the most fulfilling rural life possible.