to wonder what country life is really like?

[longestlurkerever]

I've always wanted to start a thread to ask what people in the countryside actually do at weekends and after work, but thought it might come across as a bit rude. But there have been so many threads asking how people can bear living in London lately that I am just going to ask.

I love beautiful countryside. Sometimes I feel if I moved somewhere glorious I could just sit and drink in the view and feel happy. But then I kick myself and think "but what would you actually do?" Where would you take the kids when they're driving you mad and you just need to get out of the house? Would you really just go for yet another walk? Do kids really keep themselves entertained all day with a stick like MN would have you believe? What about when it's dark at 4pm or wet every weekend for months?

So, people who enjoy country life - can you describe what you actually fill your time with? Especially if you're a bit meh about horses and animals in general? Or is that no one who lives in the country?

how people make work work. Do you/your dps generally have long commutes our do you work locally or from home

I live a 15 minute cycle from where I work, despite being in a rural location. It's a lovely cycle, no traffic lights, beautiful scenery and yes, clean air. Rural dwellers may have to put the miles in but it's not the stop-start of city driving so I suspect rather less polluting (at least mile for mile). Generally drivers are careful around me because they recognise me. I'm not some anonymous cyclist they can chuck a load of hatred at. I'm someone they'll probably bump into in 10 minutes time if they choose to do a close, fast pass.

As for the herds of killer cows - no. It does happen but generally only either to cow herders or people getting too close on footpaths. And the "simple pleasures" as opposed to what - your high brow London cheese shopping?

As a PP said, it's horses for courses. I grew up in suburban London. Since then I've lived and worked in various cities and towns. I'm now in a hamlet. It's the only time I've walked out of my front door and thought "wow, I live here, it's so beautiful". But we're all different and some people wouldn't like it. Heck, 20 something me might not have liked it that much either - those were my clubbing days in Manchester.

I love that youve asked this OP. I am from a rural village and now live in the country and have to get in a car for the shop.

I marrried a townie and people wearing trainers when not actually exercising still confuse me!

Conversely ive often wandered how sil enjoys her life (i married a towniedid i me tion that already? ) that seems to revolve around meeting her friends for coffee or lunch, shopping and the local running club which is on the ring road on tarmac under lights with exhaust fumes thrown in for free!

I am horsey and own horses so there is never really a spare moment as I compete them at weekends. Weve a working lab who loves to be walked and my 2 year old who adores it. Who knows what he will think when he hits his teens.

Today we (with the five month old) have been for a walk to see the tractors working (hes farm machinery obsessed) ridden his pony, picked blackberries, ridden his pedal tractor, brushed a horse, played with shavings, fixed everything in sight with his toy pliers and spanner!inside we do normal thongs like cooking and drawing or he plays with his toys. He does not have or need any television whoch is a plus in my book.

I can get an online food delivery and am 20 mins from the nearest town but I would not go there twice a month.

Over priced kiddy centres with lots of loud children playing as children do are my idea of hell. Difficult to park, use the buggy and the general bizz actually kind of hurts my head! Ive not actually set foot in a shop since the 5 month old was born as just order everything online!

We have pubs, post office, good butcher, chemist, excellent overpriced deli, petrol station, sporta clubs about 7 minutes away.

Apologies it would appear I have lost the power to type and spell. putting it down to typing whikst feeding

Sorry, the threat of herds of cows was tongue in cheek - I meant being stabbed does not register on my radar of real threats. Though I am a bit nervous of cows and bulls, if I am honest, and that's not to do with London - they had cows and a bull on the meadows near my suburban childhood home. But plenty of countryside has sheep instead and they are fine!

And I was agreeing with you about the small pleasures. They are what makes life wherever you are.

I think I agree, I'd like to give rural life a whirl just to see if it suited me but not because I think my life now is awful, nor that of my DC. Unfortunately i am not the only one in my family and suspect I'd have a hard time uprooting the others. And what some of you have said about rural teens does make me nervous, though there is scary stuff about that on the "London is awful" thread too. I suppose we all just hope we can give our children horizons broad enough to cope. Maybe it remains a retirement dream ... for now!

I used to live in Hammersmith in my 20s. Nothing is really on the doorstep everything was a treck i didnt like taking the tube alone at night and there were just too many people everywhere I went.

Cons of living rurally you have to plan meals and food shop as cant just pop out at all hours to stock up.
Have to run two cars really for life to be easy.
Bin collection only once a fortnight.
Muck spreading smells a few times a year.
Get caught in the cows crossing for milking can hold you up so best avoided!
Harder to get a self driving babysitter.
Taxis are expensive on night out but no more so than when in london.

All my rural friends I grew up with got their driving tests as soon as we were 17 before that it was a parent rota for lifts or your bike!
Healthy active childhood.

To answer your other question I sold my city business and bought a rural based business.

Many people work at least 30 min. drive away; 50 minutes at rush hour. It's not unusual to meet people who drive 1-1.5 hrs each way -- they commuted this long to get in-out of London & they bring their city-attitude commute with them. Have to commute, few skilled jobs out here.

I find that most the 'country' folk I know spend very little time in woods or beach or whatever. The country folk have as inactive lifestyles as the city people: maybe more so. Might go running or walk the dog. Otherwise, they run errands always in the car, or go to town & city a huge amount.

Curry buffet was £5.95 BTW so good value i think, esp as dd2 scoffed her bodyweight in dosa and fruit for free.

I was put off village life when BFF moved to a small village.
She thought she would be able to walk everywhere and it would be amazing - she found there was nowhere to walk as a lot of the fields were private/had livestock.
The village shop closed and she had to drive constantly for groceries. Everything in the nearby small town was really expensive.
Her children LOVED it though but they were small, they had loads of freedom.
She moved back and doesn't regret it - particularly as all the children are heavily into sports and they wouldn't be able to access the activities they can now.

I spend far more time outside and am far less sedentary than when I lived less rurally. Partly because I have a dog and partly because the beauty places where I walk most days are just outside my door, not a drive away. Of course I drive into town, but I had to drive or get the tube etc when I lived in London too.

We have a village shop for basics and my nearest supermarket is 5 mins drive or a shortish cycle ride away - as near as I have ever lived to a supermarket. Plus it's a Booths (the northern, nicer but a bit cheaper equivalent to Waitrose).

It's quite boring. I long for the city.