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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you live rurally....do you enjoy it?

251 replies

PottererCrouch · 01/11/2021 12:47

As title really, I live rurally and really enjoy it, but I was at a party on Saturday night and got talking to a friend of the host, they asked where I live and when I said where it was, pretty much gasped and said 'good lord, however do you cope living there? It's the middle of nowhere, no, I couldn't be doing with that. I always wonder why people want to live rurally, just doesn't appeal at all to me. Do you actually enjoy it?!'

They were very drunk but I couldn't help but feel a bit offended Hmm for a start, it IS a small village (300 houses) but it does have a pub and primary school and we're only 6 miles to the nearest town so not completely 'isolated.'

I see a lot of people on here warning others off living rurally as it isn't good for kids and they regret it etc.

If you live rurally, do you enjoy it and why?

OP posts:
TrickOrTreat21x · 01/11/2021 12:57

I live rurally. I love it so do my DC. Smile
Moved from the city to here and the quietness and calm is amazing. Also love being able to go on walks without having to drive out for a hour to a country park. I would never move now.

stayathomer · 01/11/2021 13:00

I love living rurafl for the outdoor space, neighbours, the beauty, the night skies, the indoor space, the community ... BUT I hate having to drive everywhere, the fact that there's land everywhere but no parks or public areas

Burgerqueenbee · 01/11/2021 13:00

I live in a large village and would happily live in an even more rural/isolated area. I find that the inconvenience of doing grocery shopping etc is more than worth it for the peace and quiet.

squashyhat · 01/11/2021 13:01

Yes. As I get older I am aware of the need to be able to drive everywhere and accept that one day I may have to move but I've lived here for 25 years and it will be hard.

silverbubbles · 01/11/2021 13:04

I live rurally and I love it. I have also lived in cities. Lots of people don't like the inconvenience of being rural and the commitment to the car and driving but these are things I like:

Rurally I have no neighbour issues - this is a major reason for me
no parking problems and damage to parked cars that I has to endure in the city
much more space that I would get in the city
It's dark at night with no annoying street lights or car / drunk people noises.
Amazing walks on the doorstep
I can see wildlife and greenery all around me.
Great local schools with small numbers
You don't get people just popping in as they pass or kids knocking to see if little jimmy can come out to play for the 7th time that day - something I hate
My kids have to travel to secondary school but they also are very happy where they live.
We also have really great local communities - better than when we lived in town.

I can get nearly everything I need delivered but have local shops within 3 miles and city is 10 miles.

Shmithecat2 · 01/11/2021 13:05

It hardly sounds like the Outer Hebrides 😂. I currently live in a small hamlet (8 houses), there is another village and a pub a mile away. Nearest shop is 3 miles away in another village. Nearest town is 9 miles away. We're moving soon to our new home, which is the only house for about 3 miles and I cannot wait to have no near neighbours. Next village is 6 miles away. Have car, will drive. It's not exactly off grid!

WickedWitchOfTheTrent · 01/11/2021 13:10

It's horses for courses, if they'd had a bit to drink they were probably being a little more outspoken thank normal.

I live rurally, and I love it, I could think of nothing worse than living in a city, but I get that some people like that .

britnay · 01/11/2021 13:11

I live in a hamlet of 7 houses. I love the quiet. I love the fresh air. I love the openness.
I've lived in cities before and found them to be exhausting.

meadowbleu · 01/11/2021 13:11

It's the middle of nowhere, no, I couldn't be doing with that. I always wonder why people want to live rurally, just doesn't appeal at all to me. Do you actually enjoy it?!'

What a peculiar conversation. I'd have laughed at her and said something about it being wonderful to be protected from other people's rudeness.

Come to think of it, that's one of the things that most appeals to me, as PPs have already said, no neighbour issues, parking dramas, noise. etc. I really enjoy the space, the quiet peacefulness and nature all around. It was an absolute blessing during lockdown and I intend to make the most of it for as long as I'm able.

I fully understand why some people enjoy hussle and bussle and the proximity to all the things they enjoy, so I wouldn't be so dismissive of their preferences, it's just not for me.

GoodnightGrandma · 01/11/2021 13:12

I do, but when my kids became teenagers they hated it.

SlamLikeAGuitar · 01/11/2021 13:13

I love it!
We are 9 miles from the closest town. We have a primary school, a decent enough shop, a pub, a good chippy, a nature reserve on the doorstep - what more do you need?!
Both DH and I drive which helps - not sure if cope so well if I couldn’t drive because the public transport here is a bit crap

hanahsaunt · 01/11/2021 13:15

I live in a small village with no infrastructure and, quite frankly, I don't like it all and count the days to when we move back into the middle of the city.

Bathtoy · 01/11/2021 13:16

I think it's impossible to generalise. I've lived in central London and loved it, and somewhere very remote by the sea without any other houses in sight, and loved it. The place I was absolutely consistently miserable was a village of about 1000 people.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 01/11/2021 13:16

She was rude! It's good we're all different.

I personally would hate to live rurally, love it for holidays, but like living near a high street with plenty going on - cinema/theatre/great pubs and restaurants. And the older I get the more I think that - def won't be retiring to the coast/countryside.

Enko · 01/11/2021 13:19

We used to and I loved it. Moved to a town 3 years ago like this too

Watchingyou2sleezes · 01/11/2021 13:22

Love it, thanks to the topography I can't see another house or road from my house but we're right just outside of a large town so have amenities close to hand

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 01/11/2021 13:23

I absolutely love it, and couldn’t live in a city now. My village is bigger so maybe has more going on? Before here we loved in a tiny village (300 people) and loved that too. I grew up in a city and lived in London for many years.

RampantIvy · 01/11/2021 13:25

You have described our village to a T @PottererCrouch.

We are also on a railway line and have a station. Trains are only hourly, which can be a PITA if you just miss one, but I do like the convenience of the train.

MrsKDB · 01/11/2021 13:27

like a PP I wouldn't do it with teenagers. would consider with small kids / when young adults have left home but would be concerned about lack of connectivity for food deliveries / medical care etc in older age.

krustykittens · 01/11/2021 13:28

We do and we love it! Peace and quiet, no one bothers us, star filled skies at night and lots of wildlife to spot. We live in Scotland so have right to responsible access with our dogs and ponies. We keep a small herd of native ponies at home who keep me busy and we love not having to follow the rules on a livery yard. We also don't bother anyone else! I can play my music loud and walk my nutty dogs for hours without seeing anyone!

number87inthequeue · 01/11/2021 13:31

I live in a small village with no pub or shops, but a small cricket club that's open for drinks at weekends. Our nearest supermarket is about 4 miles away. I love it! We're on the edge of a national park so there are loads of country walks from my doorstep. There's also a great community spirit. I've lived in big cities/larger towns and it's just not for me. We have a fairly big city just over an hour's drive away so if we (or the DC) are craving the city experience we can have a day trip.

I used to work in my nearby city and found that some people really couldn't understand that I enjoy living where I do. One woman in particular used to ask me most Mondays what I did at the weekend and then make a big fuss about how boring it must be etc. It's horses for courses and I could quite understand that she just didn't like the same things as me- but the weekly discussion of it was tiresome. I may or may not have made some stuff up just to freak her out eg. all the village having to help out with muck spreading

krustykittens · 01/11/2021 13:31

I also have a 20 year old daughter who loves it, but she is a keen rider and just doesn't want to have a lifestyle that doesn't involve horses. I work from home so was always available to give her lifts before she got her license, which really helps with teenagers. But when we want to have a taste of city life, we are a train ride or an hour and half car journey from Edinburgh, so I think we have a pretty balanced lifestyle.

CheeseCakeSunflowers · 01/11/2021 13:31

I live in an isolated house between 2 small villages, 200 meters up a private road from the public road in the middle of green fields. If I wanted I could run around the house naked singing Jingle Bells at the top of my voice and as long as I had checked for hot air balloons beforehand no-one would know. When I read about all the neighbour and parking problems on here I feel lucky. Yes there are disadvantages, I need to be organised with shopping as there is no popping round the corner to the shop. A car is a necessity with no public transport and I probably have to travel further than many to visit entertainment venues, restaurants, schools or doctors. I have always lived like this so it feels normal and I think I would feel claustrophobic in a town or city. As a teenager I couldn't wait to get my driving licence and I passed and bought my first car aged 17 so I understand that it is not great for that age group but it suits me.

Skysblue · 01/11/2021 13:31

She’s very rude. I live rurally and I adore it.: the air, the views, the fact that if I go for a walk I usually meet five people I know. I think it’s hilarious if people say it’s unfair on children. I grew up in a big city and it isn’t something I’d inflict on my child. The noise, the pollution, the theft, the lack of community, the danger going out at night, the easy availability of alcohol and drugs (yes I know these are in the country to, but dd can’t pop to the shop / pub and buy them because they know who she is), etc etc.

GiantHaystacks2021 · 01/11/2021 13:31

I don't live rurally.
I live in a city of about 25 million people.
I have a lot of family who live in the countryside and its nice in summer but I couldn't live there all year round.