is the countryside better than people think

Mad_maxx · 09-05-2020 04:13PM #1

i live within half an hour of one of the main cities , my fiance works in the city but i work from home while also taking the kids to school , financially it works for us this way , me being the home maker i suppose during work hours , she is off work since late march as she is a retail manager

we are both blow ins in the area we live and have been seriously thinking of moving to the suburbs of the city for several years , the locals are extremely clannish and its that bit too quiet during the winter , its a rural village but also a commuter one to one of the cities so shops are not far away , since the covid 19 lockdown however , our minds have changed somewhat , we have a large bungalow on two acres , bought in 2012 , lot of space for the purchase price , i keep a dozen sheep to graze the little field beyond the lawn and the kids adore the lambs , they have oceans of room to mess around and that space has become more an asset since the lockdown , we have trees , hundreds of feet of hedging and a lot of shrubbery and greenery to keep maintained , the kids get a nature lesson all year round and love spotting insects and bugs etc

i guess im asking if countrylife will come back in popularity due to the changes brought about by covid 19

LeYouth · 09-05-2020 04:27PM

I really think it depends on the quality of the house that you're living in.

jester77 · 09-05-2020 04:30PM

I grew up in the countryside, you couldn't pay me any amount of money to move there now. It was the lonliest, must miserable existence growing up. Wouldn't wish it on any kid.

Harry Palmr · 09-05-2020 04:34PM

Homes in the sweet spot up to about 30 KM from bigger towns, cities are going to be sought after if this looks like being a long term part of life. The push back against ribbon developments, one off housing with all mod cons ("but I demand 500mb download speed") and other unsustainable, inefficient types of dwelling will be itself pushed back as many seek a safe space.

09-05-2020 04:36PM

I couldn’t hack living in a city or suburb long term, living in the countryside is just so so much better. If I was you op I wouldn’t dream of moving back. Look at how great things are now compared to stuck in an estate, these advantages are still there when the lockdown ends.

Couldn’t imagine bringing up children anywhere but the country either, I had such a great time myself and would want the same for any child of mine. Also you have so much more space and vastly better houses, the house I’m planing to build would probably cost close to 7 figures in a city but it will only cost me the same as a standard 4 bed in an estate to build.

JoannieG · 09-05-2020 04:42PM

I live in rural area having lived in Dublin for many years, and I would hate to live in even a small town, never mind a city. OP, you say the locals are clannish and that it's a bit too quiet during the winter. Get involved in some local activity - drama, football club, table quizzes, choir, walking group, tidy towns, etc, etc, etc - and I guarantee you won't have a free evening during the winter, and you'll find that the locals will accept you. Give rural living a chance.

jam_mac_jam · 09-05-2020 04:43PM

Depends on what you like and is important to you. I personally would hate to live in the countryside so I don't. I like living in a city.

Doesn't mean it's for everyone though. A lot of people would be miserable in a city. It depends on the person.

meeeeh · 09-05-2020 04:43PM

LeYouth wrote: »

I really think it depends on the quality of the house that you're living in.

I think that is very important and so is the area you live in. Not all countryside is equal. I like where we live anyway but yes our life is pretty comfortable despite the pandemic.

Ultrflat · 09-05-2020 04:44PM

Best county I lived in was Waterford, bye far it was rural, with mountains beaches loads of space for activities...

NoviGlitzko · 09-05-2020 04:46PM

Ultrflat wrote: »

Best county I lived in was Waterford, bye far it was rural, with mountains beaches loads of space for activities...

What other counties have you lived in to compare as a matter of interest?

Ultrflat · 09-05-2020 04:47PM

NoviGlitzko wrote: »

What other counties have you lived in to compare as a matter of interest?

Cork, Kerry, Meath Dublin, Louth and Mayo.

PsychoPete · 09-05-2020 04:50PM

I live in the back arse of nowhere down a boreen, you wouldnt pay me to live anywhere else

Ubbquittious · 09-05-2020 04:52PM

jester77 wrote: »

I grew up in the countryside, you couldn't pay me any amount of money to move there now. It was the lonliest, must miserable existence growing up. Wouldn't wish it on any kid.

I used to hate it till I got a car. But for everyone it's different. If there were more people my age around back in the day it would have been better. I'd never go back to the city now or even a village and am about to buy a house way in the shticks

ednwireland · 09-05-2020 04:54PM

grew up grubby dirty terrace housing in the uk . would I go back to that after many years in donegal with acres of fields round me. not a chance.

Mister Vain · 09-05-2020 04:56PM

It was great when I was a kid. Some great adventures and fond memories. It was horrible during my late teens/early 20's as I didn't get my first car until I was 23. After that it didn't matter.

Ultrflat · 09-05-2020 05:00PM

I grew up in the rolling feilds of Meath falling into every single mud trap I could find.. I'd do anything to that all over again. The hole
My life changed when I got my car my uncle left it to me in his will a pretty awesome Lada Nivia pretty much like this yeah people used to joke but I had independce and a very slow 4x4 :pac:

LADA%20BA%202%20front%20and%20passenger%20side.jpg

LADA%20BA%202%20front%20and%20passenger%20side.jpg

Dayo93 · 09-05-2020 05:14PM

its all releative , I grew up in the Suburbs and now live in the same Place

I like that I can walk to the shop , walk to the pub , walk the kids to school , the kids have all there friends living close by so when they are old enough they wont be isolated and will be able to call to them without any ordeal, We have two large Parks within walking distance of the house , We like going to gigs etc , jump on the bus and in dublin in 30-40 mins.

The wife is from the country and we have an opportunity to move back , i can see the appeal of the big garden etc but all the stuff we would loose and travel distance to work for me it would not be worth it

freshpopcorn · 09-05-2020 05:29PM

I live a few km from a town. So, I can walk there if I have to.
I lived in a city and town for a while and I was looking forward to it but it didn't do a lot for me.
Being closer to shops was nice for a while but the novelty wore off after a while being a guy.
Also everywhere was busier. I can go to town go to the main supermarkets and it's not as much hassle as it's in a large area.
Same if I want to go swimming, gym, etc. I have access to things without the traffic, etc in the country.
I was happy enough as a kid in the countryside. I had friends etc. The whole housing estate lifestyle wouldn't appeal to me at all. If I had to live in a town. I'd be looking for a house on a road with a good enough distance from neighbour's. Neighbour's always seem to bickering in housing estates from what I know.(This can happen in the country also but at least your not on top of one another).

Cody montana · 09-05-2020 05:39PM

I grew up in a rural area but have always lived in cities since I went to college.
I love the social aspect of living in a city.
I like the buzz, the easy access to everything.

Think I’d retire in the countryside though.

09-05-2020 08:03PM

Ultrflat wrote: »

Best county I lived in was Waterford, bye far it was rural, with mountains beaches loads of space for activities...

Its also believed by many to be irelands best city

Feisar · 09-05-2020 08:09PM

jester77 wrote: »

I grew up in the countryside, you couldn't pay me any amount of money to move there now. It was the lonliest, must miserable existence growing up. Wouldn't wish it on any kid.

That's part of the reason we are in an estate at the mo. When we were buying there were some nice houses in the countryside which we'd have preferred. With having kids in mind we decided against them.

09-05-2020 08:12PM

jester77 wrote: »

I grew up in the countryside, you couldn't pay me any amount of money to move there now. It was the lonliest, must miserable existence growing up. Wouldn't wish it on any kid.

I grew up in the country and still live there now. It’s ok for families with small children but not great for teenagers. As a teenager, I lived a distance from my friends and as a result was and am a bit of a loner. When my own kids were old enough, I had them join every club possible and spent years driving them to various events. It was tough going, but I think worth it as they’ve got great friends from these groups. I love my home, but have been seriously considering selling and moving into or closer to town as the maintenance is a bit much now that we’re approaching retirement.

GIMP · 09-05-2020 08:16PM

I grew up in rural Ireland till 19, hated it.

I moved to Dublin loved it

We moved to a more rural area when we had kids about 6 years ago, hated it, nearly finished us (commuting etc)

Moved to North County Dublin, best decision. Near city, semi rural with infrastructure, sea and beach on door step.

We did it so our kids would have a step up and quality of life and opportunities that rural clicky Ireland just doesnt offer.

Rothko · 09-05-2020 09:15PM

Grew up in the countryside and loved it. I'd hate to live in a city or a large town.

NSAman · 09-05-2020 09:32PM

Grew up in London, moved to the arsehole of nowhere in ireland, as a kid I hated it for the first two years, could not settle. My parents sent be back to London as i was so unhappy to live with relatives. I lasted three weeks. I came back to Ireland and have love the countryside ever since.

The freedom, the lack of neighbours the sense of community I love in small locales.

I moved to Dublin, while I still have an apartment there I only use it for business and family needing to use it. I could never live in dublin full time. I have lived in NYC Chicago Madrid and a few other cities, but each weekend I headed outside the city to the country for a break.

I currently live in a very rural location in the States while still having a place in the city (which is used by the kids as i never go there apart from a day or two a year). I love the fact that I have a few acres to mow, gardens to maintain and fantastic neighbours. The ability to see for miles is amazing and a the privacy i adore. The dogs love the running around, as do i pottering around on a tractor in my free time. Fantastic neighbours who actually give a damn and a real sense of community make this ideal for me.

In ireland i have just bought a house for my retirement again in the west, which I have been doing up (but has come to a halt with all virus stuff). It is in a beautiful area a few kms from a small town but very rural and fell in love with the view and the people 9over a number of years.

I like visiting cities (nyc especially) but dont think I could ever live in one full time again.

whisky_galore · 09-05-2020 09:32PM

Countryside isn't so bad right now.
With anything that's any good shut down in the city, living there must kind of suck these days.

Small town Ireland sucks at any time.

harry Bailey esq · 09-05-2020 09:41PM

PsychoPete wrote: »

I live in the back arse of nowhere down a boreen, you wouldnt pay me to live anywhere else

Five or six years and we'll be doing the same fingers crossed. West cork. Already own the shell, little place a few miles outside bantry.

Giraffe Box · 09-05-2020 09:41PM

PsychoPete wrote: »

I live in the back arse of nowhere down a boreen, you wouldnt pay me to live anywhere else

Correct.
I'd prefer it if you stayed right there, thanks.

meeeeh · 09-05-2020 09:47PM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Countryside isn't so bad right now.
With anything that's any good shut down in the city, living there must kind of suck these days.

I think the good size garden and house is advantage at the moment. I can't imagine two adults with kids working from home living in a semi detached house with a small garden.

Hercule Poirot · 09-05-2020 09:52PM

I've been living in a very small town for the last ten years, moved here for work

Promised myself I would be gone within two years but procrastinated and ended up settling here buying a house and that even though I only knew the people I worked with and very few others

About three years ago I joined a sports club and then last year joined another club - makes a world of difference being active in the community

I'm not saying you have to attend town meetings or anything like that because that wouldn't be my cup of tea but when it comes to living in the country you get of it what you put into it

I wouldn't dream of living in a built up area now, it just doesn't appeal to me at all

Ms2011 · 09-05-2020 09:57PM

These threads are always the same:

I love the city/country and couldn't imagine living anywhere elsewhere.
I hate the city/country and would never return.

It's all relative to your circumstances and personal preference.

is the countryside better than people think

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