Lost in the country

[mechanic]

I have always lived in the big city where there were plenty of jobs but since moving to a small town I have had 2 part time jobs two years a part and lost them both because they could not aford to keep people working. It really frustrates me because it is so hard to find another one and something with desent pay. I don't want to work for peanuts if you know what I mean. I like the country but not the pay or type of jobs found in small towns. I'm only about four miles out now but plan to move 20 miles away to more secluded living but close to a military base about 14 miles away, maybe I can get a desent pay job with a contractor on base.

 

[roxynoodle]

I live in the country but make the long commute everday to the city for work. I do spend a lot of money on gas though getting a good gas mileage car has made a big difference.

 

[BB_TX]

I live in the country and drive 31 miles to the city to work. When I first started it 34 yrs ago, it was 31 mile drive thru the country. Now it is about 3 miles of country and 28 miles of city.
But about a year and half to go then I kiss it goodby.

 

[dmccarty]

I drive 35ish miles one way every day to work. I leave very early in the morning and there is ALOT of traffic heading into The Big City. Going in early is the only way to avoid the huge traffic tie ups.

Its the price I pay for living in the country. I price that is cheap. The funny thing is that drive time is about the same or less compared to when I lived in The Big City since I can avoid most of the nasty traffic choke points. So I spend the same amout or even less time in the truck. The drive after the first 10 miles or so is relaxing and not at all stressful once I leave The Big City.

Later,
Dan

 

[MarkV]

I think there are a lot of us that know what you are talking about. For me it is a 70 mile drive to the city and jobs that pay what I became accustom to. Fortunately I don’t have to do it everyday. I don’t even try to work in my area because my rates would be so much more than the local crowd. Small rural areas just don’t have the economic base to support too many good jobs and those are generally held by people that grew up in the area.

We all have to add up the plusses and minuses of our situation and chose what is most important. Good luck with your decision.

MarkV

 

[HomeBrew2]

27 years driving 40 mi ea way thru the beautiful countryside to work in town. No complaints. Always drove a fairly economical vehicle. It ain't necessarily cheap to live in the country but, a person can sure feel a lot more free

 

[Highbeam]

I don't think it's the mileage so much as the time spent on the road. If you have kids, you are missing out on huge chunks of their awake lives. The cost isn't an issue as being a slave to the drive so much that you don't get a chance to enjoy the country life.

 

[stumpfield]

I totally understand your situation. I live and work in the big city but have to drive 600 miles round trip to enjoy country life every chance I got. I'm sure many of us on this board do the same. Why? Probably for the same reason as yours. For me, I figure for every year I work in the city, I save enough to live 3 years in the country without an income. When that day comes, I will be living in the country fulltime without having to worry about finding a paying job.

 

[riptides]

I drive 74+ miles one way to work now. Takes anywhere between 2 to 3 hours one way. I go where the jobs take me. I do what it takes to feed my family and keep my farm. Sure we could move into the city or burbs, but around here, the city and burbs are coming to us.

And I cannot play with my tractor in the burbs.

-Mike Z.

 

[czechsonofagun]

thats a long haul, riptides - i do only 30 miles one way - Nokesville to Dulles. With the traffic it gets old quickly - still can not imagine to live in townhouse or condo again.