Before the breathing air is gone
Before the sun is just a bright spot in the night time
Out where the rivers like to run
I stand alone and take back somethin' worth remembering...
The lyrics of that old Three Dog Night song describe it exactly-the yearning for a home out in the country. I hear it every day when I ask potential borrowers what they are looking for in a home-a very large percentage want to live in the country. That's most people's dream-right? The patch of ground that is our own, where we can plant a garden, have a goat or two-where it is quiet and peaceful.
And if you live in a rural state such as Indiana, a home in the country is something that many people grew up in-so it is not so unlikely that as they reach the time to purchase their own home that is what they want. The folks that grew up in the country or small communities are not the ones I am writing this blog for (though you are welcome to hum along and agree when I get it right.)
I am writing on this topic for the folks who grew up in the city or larger communities that don't know a rooster from a hen. It is you folks I am speaking to-so listen up.
georgehancks.com
For the uninitiated-that is a rooster. A hen looks more like this:
emmabridgewater.co.uk
Oh no-that's not it-that is what my city friends may envision as a hen-let's try this:
boldtgallery.com
That's more like it. Anyway-all this talk about chickens brings me to a point: If you have never lived in the country you probably should do some research on what that means. Many times when people talk to me about a home in the country this is what I think of:
theartofilmblogspot.com
For those who weren't raised on 1960's situation comedies or are students of such-the conversations I have with city people describing the idyllic country vision they have should take a gander at this show in reruns-Green Acres-wherein the city slickers move to the quaint town of Hooterville and mad-cap chaos ensues.
In any event having lived in the country for thirteen years, I don't consider myself an expert, but I do know a couple of things about owning a country property. Here are the negatives you can expect:
1) Mileage on your vehicle-any time you are out of bread or need to take a child to an after school event you will be behind the wheel. If you have multiple children at multiple schools the mileage will add up quickly.
2) Be prepared if you live in a northern climate to be snowed in. This may only be for a day or it could be a week or more depending on how remote your place is.
3) Consider medical emergencies and the additional time to get help if you need it.
4) Likewise fire protection. There are no hydrants out in the country. Our credo was always, "If it is on fire, it's gone. Get the kids and pets out."
5)
1800srecycling.com
Bugs. You get bugs. No municipality sprays for insects in the country. You get these little guys swarming in June, whacking you in the head as they fly by. In the spring and fall you will be visited by a plague of Asian Lady bugs trying to get into your house.. By the way those pretty little bugs bite and when you chase them with the vacuum they smell bad. A natural defense I am told. I am an expert at those, having spent hours with the vacuum only to have hundreds more crop up where I began. You also get mosquitos, ticks, spiders and other not so pretty insects that bite, eat your garden and other wise create havoc. But you see, the country is where they live.
6)
raccoonfactshub.com
Awwwww....raccoons....very cute. But not when pooping in the kiddie wading pool. They also carry rabies so outdoor pets may be at risk. You will probably run into some snakes too. Not so cute.
7) Mowing-if you want to keep your property useable you will have to also invest in a large riding mower. Mowing a couple of acres can pretty much kill a Saturday. And get a blade on that puppy-so you can get out of the drive in the winter.
8) Vacation paradise. My extended family thought that our house was the place to go for family reunions and vacations. Maybe yours won't. But if you have a picturesque property there is the chance that everyone you are related to will camp out at your place during their vacation if you let them. So unless you are prepared to become a bread and breakfast, you might want to consider how well you get along with the in-laws.
9) And speaking of those chickens...if the farm down the road has roosters everything you have ever heard about roosters greeting the new day is true. They make a lot of noise. Early. In. The. Morning. If you choose to live in the country you have to get used to roosters and perhaps being downwind of a pig farm. There really is no odor like that which our little porcine piggy friends exude, totally unique. Where are you going to keep farm animals if not on a farm? They had a claim to the country before you did. So there is that.
10) Trespassers. People who come on your property without permission to hunt deer, birds or mushrooms. There are those that just don't understand that your yard is not for picnickers.
So have I talked you out of this yet? No? Okay-then let's take a look at the positives.
1) Quiet. Or I should say, a different kind of noise. I always used to tell my children that they should listen to the summer music-the chirping of crickets, and the whirring of cicadas-which can actually be quite loud in July and August. But it is a beautiful sound. You might hear a barking dog, coyote, or owls making a din at night. But those are wonderful noises in my opinion.
2) The night sky. At night you can actually see the sky, the constellations and the weather rolling in. I spent one August housebreaking a puppy during the Perseid Meteor Showers-the only time I have ever been happy to be awake and outside at three in the morning. I also had a grandstand seat for the comet Kohoutek when it made it's close to earth run. Breathtaking!
3) Gardening-if you are a gardener and like to grow and put up vegetables living in the country is great. Be aware that the deer, cabbage moths, raccoons, and rabbits also really enjoy and appreciate what you are growing as well.
4) I am a wildlife lover. So I always enjoyed watching the variety of wildlife I saw in my yard. The birds at the feeder in the country are spectacular. Watching hawks hunt is also amazing.
5) Not having to put up with neighbors. That is a nice advantage. On the other hand if you need help quickly it is not so nice. It took me a long time after I moved into town to adjust to looking out my kitchen window and seeing a house directly behind me.
6) Space for kids to roam. Letting the kids out into the backyard to run off a bit of steam is a great feature of living in the country. What they bring home from these rambles sometimes isn't. ( The skeletal remains of a possum anyone?)
7)
ohio-nature.com
Bugs! Yes, the bugs are an advantage of being in the country as well as a disadvantage. We used to watch the milkweed pods for the cocoons of Monarch Butterflies and hatch the adults in canning jars. They were beautiful as they flew away for Mexico upon release.
Would I say there are more advantages to living in town than in the country? Not necessarily. Each situation is unique and has to be evaluated by every individual buyer. If you have an busy young family that is engaged in many activities, you might consider a more suburban setting. What is important is that you know that life in the country is different and has its own advantages but then so does life in town. Just be sure you evaluate each based upon how you want live.
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