Rural v urban

[Sillytum]

I am currently house hunting and have found a rural house about 20 minutes drive from the primary school. It is rural with nothing around - nearest shop about 2 miles. It’s a dream house - big garden, huge kitchen, big spacious living areas and backs onto a forest. My worry is how it will fit my daughter (her dad and I don’t live together and he lives 5 mins walk to the school in the middle of the town). I’m thinking about her socialising, meeting pals after school and at weekends, her hobbies and sports etc. Now and as the guest older (she’s 5). I know there are benefits too to rural living but I’m just trying to weigh it all up. Massive decision. Any thoughts please.

How much time does you DD spend with her Dad?

Might be she has best of both worlds, easy reach of friends while with him, lots of space in the country with you?

What are you interests? Are you a galleries, dinner and shopping person, or a walker, gardener homebody.

Its too early to say what your DD might like as hobbies growing up. My friends have been heavily influenced by their families pursuits. Do your hobbies fit town or country? Do you have time to maintain a garden?

I'm having the same debate at the moment.

Grew up rurally, LOVED it. Moved to (small) town in my mid 20s and have lived in town for the next decade and a bit, I have loved that too. Now deciding where we want the children to grow up. In town with amenities or in the country with space.

You probably need to think about availability of public transport for when she does start to get more independent and where the local secondary schools are located. You could end up doing a huge amount of taxiing around. Unless you and her Dad could somehow work it together.

It might be worth trying to find out how many kids from her school also live locally - that should give you an idea of initial feasibility.