Rural living, as any other way of life, has advantages as well as disadvantages. Rural life is often pursued by those looking for peace and quiet, for a simpler way of living, perhaps for a safer life for their families but there is the downside of rural living, being away from shops, perhaps having to travel further to work and school and very little entertainment.

Within a rural community, it is often exactly that - a community. This can be so unlike city life where there is rarely the same type of community spirit still found in out-of-the-way locations. People are more likely to band together, get to know their neighbours because there is so little else to do.

Having a longer journey to work can have it’s reward in coming home to a peaceful environment with low crime rates. The low crime rates within rural areas is also worth the extra necessary journey for a child to get to school. With so few people in a place, it is usually easy for everyone to get to know everyone else and look out for each other.

Speaking of work, it may be necessary to take alternative employment if it is not possible to travel. There may be relatively little work in a rural area but there will be relatively few people and, therefore, much less competition for the work than, perhaps, in a large city where there may be hundreds of applicants for one position. It is not always necessary to take up alternative employment if it is possible to drive to work. This, of course, would make for rather a long day but may be worth it to return to the country where the air is fresh and clear and where the cost of living can be less than that of, say, a large city which could mean less need for working overtime, using up overtime hours for travelling instead.

A lack of outside entertainment can be seen as an opportunity to create friendships with rural neighbours and, to be old fashioned, create your own entertainment which might even be a financial counter balance for having to make longer car journeys. Rural areas are usually safer for children to play and they have a lot more space than in a city. This surely makes up for longer travel time to and from school.

Being hours away from the nearest shops can be problematic for instances when something is needed but that just means spending less money. No one can “impulse buy” if they can’t get to a shop.

Rural living is very advantageous overall, the sense of community and low crime as well as the fresh countryside air. There is, of course, the problem of being far away from places and, possibly, having to travel a long way to and from anywhere but this is not necessarily a disadvantage.