My husband and I took the leap to move to the country about two years ago. I have learned some lessons (most of them the hard way) along the journey and have decided to share this wealth of country knowledge with you.
Hopefully this can help some other unknowing city girl trying to make her way in a country world. Maybe, just maybe, you won’t get cursed out in front of your children by your neighbor on a dirt rode at seven in the morning like I did.
Here’s to hoping.
1. No Dusting
What is dusting you ask? Yeah…I had NEVER heard of it either. Dusting is when you’re driving over 15 mph and the car kicks up dirt and gravel. Country peeps find it extremely rude if you do this. So much so, that my children and I got a lovely ear bashing by an elderly neighbor. When driving past a car or a person on a dirt road just take it slow to avoid any uncomfortable confrontations.
2. Loud Booms
Out in the Oklahoma country we have all sorts of loud booms… fireworks, earthquakes, and shotguns just to name a few. Luckily its pretty quiet INSIDE the house, but step outside and it is a different story at any time of the day. I heard fireworks at ten in the morning today. Invest in ear plugs if you have any sensitive ears in the family. Oh, and calling the Sheriff is pointless and they will most likely laugh at you.
3. Plan Ahead
The closest store from my house is eight minutes away, and it is a gas station. In the country you do not have the luxury to just run to the store real quick. Nor is there any fast food out here so a mom-in-a-pinch may or may not get the kids gas station pizza’s every once in awhile. Planning ahead for meals is an essential for a country mama.
4. Bugs, Spiders, and Snakes
You are merely a visitor in the land of the creepy crawlers, and it definitely takes some adjusting to. I will never forget the blood curdling scream from my eight year old as she saw a scorpion running across the bathroom floor. Spiders and snakes are a plenty and I am more educated now on all the different species than I could have ever imagined.
5. Time Management
Being a city girl I was so used to always being in a hurry and the, ‘we have to get there RIGHT now’ mentality. The country will change that for you real quick whether you like it or not. When I leave the house, I always seem to get behind the gigantic horse trailer, a tractor, or the ninety year old grandma out for her weekly drive.
NOBODY IS IN A HURRY….EVER!
I just make sure to leave with plenty of time, and try my best not to be in a rush.
To be honest, the most difficult part for me has to be just driving around… driving in my tiny town is going to make me insane.
The amount of people who drive UNDER the 35 mph speed limit is out of control.
Change is a constant in our life, and with change comes lessons to be learned. I hope my lessons can ease the transition for another city mama moving into the country world.
What lessons have you learned from your community?
Do you have any tips for a city girl going country?
I share your observations about country life. I would like to add something that I tell my friends when they naively talk about moving to the country: Country air is not fresh! Whether it‘s neighbors who burn their trash or god-knows-what other toxic chemicals every single day or you might also have a neighbor who decides to get10 pigs and a herd of goats and never cleans their pens and you can’t even open a window in your home. We have lived in the country for 20 years and there are some benefits but the next house we buy will be in an older neighborhood in the city!
Yes!! I definitely understand! Luckily we have some pretty awesome neighbors, but I definitely get a stinky smell more than once throughout the day. Lots of chickens and chicken coops around us which are apparently very stinky! Thanks so much for reading & commenting.
i moved almost a decade ago from the luxurious east coast city of monmouth beach new jersey to this little , and I mean tiny, 2 bedroom shack in french camp California. if the culture shock doesn’t kill you perhaps your neighbors will. this is not an easy transition but bugs and spiders are the least of my worries.. I’ve been back there to visit family but I call this home now.. the lessons were many on how to become country- but I feel like I’m here to stay.