Living in the country...it's what many of us dream of, while working at some high-stress 9 to 5 job. We envision the peace and quiet, the lovely scenery, the joys of setting our own schedules. Utopia!
And it is utopia. But like anything worth having, you make some sacrifices. For example, town is not so easy to get to any more. Which means all those cool things we do in town might now be only a weekly, or even monthly, treat.
Those daily (or more than daily?) trips to the coffee shop are now a thing of the past. I have traded my skinny, extra hot, 5 pump morning chai for the more pedestrian tea bag of choice. But I love my morning hot tea, often sipped while gazing out of my window at the fields and alpaca pastures, watching birds at my bird feeders or while puttering in the garden.
Shopping? Unless it takes place at the grocery store, the hardware store or the feed store, it is pretty much not a big part of my life now. Luckily, the alpacas do not seem to care that they see me in the same barn clothes every day, and I have truly not missed paying for all the stuff I used to 'need'. And if I do get the shopping bug...well, I just log on to my favorite on-line stores. Plus, it is amazing how much cool stuff you can find at some feed stores. The Big R chain rocks!
Speaking of logging on, one of the biggest challenges of the country lifestyle is getting connected. Forget wireless internet. If you are lucky, your farm will be served by satellite or cable, but many rural areas still only have dial up options. I have been known to hit the library while in town, just to get a faster internet connection. On the other hand, I have so much to do every day that I don't spend nearly the amount of time on-line, which has certainly helped my dress size (oops! I mean Carhartts size!).
It's funny, though. Most of the things that used to fill my life in town, I don't miss at all. They've been replaced by the wonder of waking up every day to a lifestyle that I love, with the animals and people that bring me joy. Trip to the mall? Not interested. I have baby alpacas to halter train, barns to clean, dogs to walk, and gardens to tend. See you at the feed store!
