We moved from a busy city to a very rural area about 4 yrs ago. I wanted to bring my kids up somewhere rural and villagey and they love it here. The area that we live in is beautiful and our house is fantastic (crippling us financially but not to worry) and there is a lot to do in the area if you are outdoorsy. My DH loves it. However...
This place is smothering me. The Mum in me loves living here as it's so good for my family but I (me the person) hates it. It's cliquey, small minded and lacking in anything that interests me. My DH still commutes and that means that for 12 hrs of the day it's just me and the kids. I feel like a single parent during the week, and I don't drive yet (have been learning for over a year but still not ready to sit my test- that's another thread though).
Career wise I have limited my options ridiculously (I'm a secondary teacher) and I miss the buzz of the city and the oppertunities that it gave me to pursue my interests. Added to this I miss my friends and feel very isolated as, whilst I have met lots of nice people, I've not met anyone in 4 yrs that really makes me laugh or is remotely my kind of person.
I love living in this house and I love the oppertunities that being in this village gives my kids but... I hate it here.
The good does out-weight the bad (and we couldn't move even if I was desperate to) but I know that I'm in the wrong place for me.
Anyone else feel like this and if so how do you cope with it?
I should really change my name to 'poor me'!!!