I live in the countryside now after being a townie all my life but that's because I met my partner and he lived in the countryside. I love it but miss certain things about city living.
I would say I live in a popular second homes - I've moved from London for the good life area and alot of them I'd say nearly 70% are now regretting the move and looking to move back. It's great for the first 6-12 months but they don't understand the way of rural life and I don't mean that in a derogatory way as I was guilty of it too when I first moved here. You will think you know how to live in a rural location but life is very different to what you imagine.
Farmers work all hours, not 9-5 and yes if they are working a field next to you they need those lights and the noisy tractor they are driving will be waking you up in the night and no they can't do it any other time so them working all night is not unusual. They shoot foxes as the kill lambs, ducks, chickens etc. They also use what I now know are crow bangers every 20 mins a bang goes off to scare the birds away. They are allowed to do this.
Odour from the said farms will come and go but you will smell it.
Then there are flies, rats, mice all pretty much the norm if you live in the countryside. Pest control is best done in the form of terriers. I work next door to the councils environmental health team and they are constantly saying you live in a rural location this is normal we cannot do anything about the odour and noise from the farms.
Alot of places are local places for local people and very cliquey. joining all manner of different clubs is a common theme and works for some but not all people and getting yourself on the community Council if your not from the village is just asking for trouble as again not derogatory but you haven't lived in the village long enough to know local issues it doesn't go down well as some people think that they will treat it like a town or city and that's not rural reality.
Dependant on where you live you will need to drive everywhere, the plus side is the 30 minute journey to go a mile or two in the city, is a 20 mile trip usually with some wonderful scenery. Talking about driving you will need to learn how to drive in a country lane yes that hedge will need to touch the paintwork on the side of your car and make sure you know how to reverse tractors and machinery will make you reverse as they usually can't. And watch for tourists who forget any vehicles come down country lanes or how to listen for said vehicles coming down said lane. Park considerably as in don't park on a country lane, in road widenings - they are there for a reason and its not as a parking space! - do not also park across/in gateways or on the farmers driveway. Farmers leave mud on the road it's an occupational hazard don't complain they work on average 14 hour days if not longer.
Do not unless with permission of the animal owner, feed any animals in fields even pulling long grass (I was told off for this) as they can't digest grass if it is too long who knew?! No carrots apples mints they are all off the menu.
Always shut gates, public footpaths through farms remember they are working areas do not stop for a picnic in their fields you may not be able to see cows in the field and they will come and say hello, depending on their mood that could be to just say hello or to trample you. And you wouldn't be happy if someone just rocked up in your garden for a picnic.
Shops shut early, no 24/7 supermarkets, hope and pray you get the regular delivery driver who knows where you live or you have to play anyone know who's house this is on the local village fb group.
Do not do join said fb group and bombard it with there is no suitable houses/ultra modern town house ones anyone know any coming up. Then when you do find a house bombard it with I'm moving soon, I'm moving in a couple of weeks/days/tomorrow, ooh I'm moving today, I moved a couple of days ago. A couple of posts asking for tradesmen, recommendations of where stuff is etc is more than ample. It annoys the locals before you even move to the village.
Talking of tradesmen, where I live they are scarce, rarely turn up and they will always have the one that they love but you can never get for months on end as they are so busy, so don't expect them to do your bathroom/kitchen up next week.
Oh and the deadly silence when you first move and not hearing the distant sound of traffic and the occasional siren can be a bit scary if you hear anything move outside but you get used to it, invest in a good torch or 10! It's only usually a fox, hedgehog or feral cat
I know I've given mostly what sounds the bad parts of country life but I'm just giving the reality, which some people don't think about or should I say don't want to think about.
If you find a group to fit in with and you are preparing to give up your luxuries it's wonderful living in the countryside but so many people move here and don't expect the reality. Im lucky my partner is from the village so it was a bit easier for me. But remember its not the same as the holiday you take for a week or 2 in the summer which makes people look at it with rose tinted glasses. It's usually dead in the winter.
Benefits include fresh (sometimes smelly) air, seeing the stars, beautiful scenery, loads of walks on your doorstep and some wonderful local produce.