According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), only 15 percent of the population lived in non-metro areas in 2014. Living in a rural setting isn’t for everyone, and it comes with some unique challenges. If you’re dreaming of a house out in the country, here are some factors you need to consider first.
Transportation Costs Will Increase
Unless you telecommute, work is likely no longer going to be a two-dollar bus ride away. Owning a vehicle is essential in rural areas, especially in places with little or no public transportation. You’ll need room in the budget for a suitable vehicle, repairs, maintenance, insurance, and regular fuel. If you move to a very remote area, or your area gets a lot of snow, you may even need to upgrade your current vehicle to an all-wheel drive model.
Learn to Stockpile
While you won’t necessarily need to prep for a nuclear disaster, you will need to learn to keep a full pantry, a full shed, and a full garage. Remember, you likely won’t have access to a grocery store or department store in a very rural setting. Even if you do, weather conditions could make a trip out unwise. Food, fuel for the lawn mower or tractor, animal feed, and even drinking water (if your house has an electric pump for a well), needs to be kept stocked and organized. Find ways to store and organize your surplus and keep it safe before you start moving in.
How to Survive Without Utilities
If your first reaction to a power outage is to call the landlord and put on a sweater, rural life may surprise you. If your utilities are interrupted out in the country, you need to know what to do and what to expect. If your primary method of heating breaks down, you will have to call a repair service and fire up a secondary method such as a few space heaters, or a wood stove until help arrives. Make sure you use a service like Team Electric Plumbing & Air that can work around your schedule and arrive on time. If your electricity goes out, you’ll need to know how to use a generator and have fuel for it. You should also have flashlights and batteries for them.
Better Emergency Supplies
In some rural areas, you may have to wait an hour or more for an ambulance. Let that sink in. If you cut your hand badly, get bitten by a dog, or roll the riding mower and break your leg, you need to know how to handle an emergency situation until help arrives. Have everyone have some basic first-aid training and the necessary supplies to stabilize your condition.
Rural life is beautiful, often quiet and a great lifestyle, but it’s not for everyone. Before you move out of the metro area, you need to plan and be ready for these scenarios.
