People are fleeing urban life for more enjoyable, healthier country living

While many of us have become reliant on the conveniences and amenities associated with city living, the lure of the great outdoors and a simpler, more natural way of life is exerting an ever-greater pull on many. As a result, a great number of people are packing up and heading for a simpler way of life in the country.

The reasons people seek out country living vary greatly. One of the common reasons for such a move is cost of living. Everything from food to entertainment and housing is often far cheaper in rural areas. In many cities, the cost of housing has forced families further and further out of the heart of the city, but the further out they live, the more likely they are to have to deal with more crime. For many, the decision to get right out of the cities and head for the country is an easy one.

Another problem plaguing many cities is crime. One is far more likely to be the victim of a house break-in or armed robbery in the big city than in small town America.

There is also a perception that cities are heavily polluted while country areas have pure, pristine air. While this is not entirely true – unfortunately, even rural areas have their share of pollution – it is certainly true that country air is generally cleaner, and therefore safer.

Some less common, but valid reasons that others make the move from town to country involve things as diverse as wanting to escape racial tension, overcrowding or even cities prone to natural disasters like Los Angeles.

Then there are those who just yearn for a time gone by where things were simpler and everything moved at a slower pace. The country is also renowned for having strong communities, where people rely on and help each other when they’re in need.

Country folks also work really hard for everything they achieve, which means they truly appreciate what they have, are resourceful and tend not to be as wasteful as some of their city cousins.

People who live in rural areas also have the time to stop and smell the roses, proverbially speaking. There is an abundance of quiet time where country dwellers can sit on their porches just enjoying the silence or the night sounds. And their view of a beautiful sunrise or sunset is not blocked by ugly, gray buildings.

Those who live on farms and in the country are often also far more in touch with nature, working harmoniously with both domestic and wild animals. They also have access to fresh, wholesome foods that they have either grown themselves or that have been grown by local farmers. This often means access to pure, non-irradiated honey, grass-fed beef and lamb, and free range chicken and eggs, all of which are far healthier than what most people in the cities are forced to purchase. Though many of those options are freely available, they are often prohibitively expensive in more urban areas.

A word of caution is in order, however. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) warns that rural living does present some challenges. Since it often takes far longer for an emergency medical team to reach the scene of an accident on a rural road, as many as two-thirds of all vehicle accident deaths occur on such roads. It takes first responders about 18 minutes on average to reach the scene of a rural accident, versus only 10 minutes in the city. Then there is also the fact that as many as 90 percent of all first responders in rural areas are unpaid volunteers, rather than paid professionals.

That said, for many the choice is clear: Any hardships or challenges they may face are well worth it if only they can escape the smog and rush of the city for the beauty and peace of the great outdoors.

Sources include:

NPR.org

WideOpenCountry.com

TheGuardian.com

LiveScience.com