To ask how you'd feel living rurally

[TooManySocks]

We need to find a new property, current house is making DH and I depressed. Awful neighbours, druggy neighbourhood, etc.

We can get more for our budget the further out of town we go - basically DH is wanting to move to mid Wales and live the rural life, he grew up in the country, so it's his normal.

But I'm a total townie. And I know the fantasy of a secluded, rural home with chickens in the garden sounds like a wonderful idea, but I'm worried I'll feel isolated and more depressed, DH can't understand how apprehensive I am and thinks it'll be great!

Has anyone made the move from busyish town to rural country house? Any advice?

Also selling will be more difficult if you’re rurally/remote.
Very few of the houses in our postcode even go on the market before sale is agreed. Estate agents contact us not the other way around. Rural property can be quite sought after.

You can still be rural without having to go the whole hog.

I live in a small farming village. Nothing much happens after 7pm, no people or cars, the odd dog walker. Less than 1000 people live here, lots of lovely country walks on our door step, a local pub, primary school and village hall. But I'm 10 mins away from a bigger town with a Tesco, Costa etc. And half an hour from several big cities with decent train links to London, Manchester and Birmingham all an hour and a half away. I feel as though I've got the beat of both worlds

Oh and I live in north notts, close to Sherwood Forest centre parcs. Cheap too

Will your and your partners’ work continue to be AH medium and long term?

What do you like doing?

I grew up in the city and like being very near amenities. Public services, transport, food shops etc. Don’t like the countryside or driving much. DH likes the countryside but wants access to London jobs.

I really prefer big cities ever since moving to bigger and bigger towns from a rural upbringing.

Rural living would feel claustrophobic as a pp put it with suffocating. Obviously there’s more space so it’s a real city-loving mindset to feel like that.

I live rurally and absolutely love it. Five minutes from the coast, open fields, mountains and lakes on the doorstep. It's fantastic.

But. It's not for everyone. You do need to be able to drive as public transport is practically non-existent, and in winter you can get pretty isolated - especially if there's snow or flooding.

We have a supermarket, post office and a few small independent shops but that's about it. If you want to buy clothes or school supplies or anything major, you have to go to the nearest town which is about 45 minutes drive.

It depends what you want from life, really. I wouldn't live in a city - I'm a country girl and my job is in the outdoors too.

Have a look at Abergavenny OP. Thriving market town, glorious countryside and your budget will get you something really nice. Train station with links to Cardiff and Manchester, hospital, etc

What are you looking for size wise and where do you/dh have to be able to get to eg for work?

I hope you can find a compromise. I have a friend living on the top of a little mountain in Wales. To me it feels quite isolated as there's a long drive from their gate down a track to their house, and once you're there everything you can see is either theirs or the view down into wooded hills. However, there's a small town at the bottom of the hill with a supermarket etc, and a bigger town a few miles down the valley.
My DH would love true isolation, but it's not for me. I can just about tolerate the small market town we live in just now. At least the broadband usually works.