This afternoon, as I stood on the street in downtown Grand Forks, a merchant asked, “When are you heading to a bigger city?” I’ve never been one to effectively hide how I am feeling with the look on my face, and he had nailed it. My expression, as I scanned Market Avenue, was one of desire. A longing. A feeling of anticipation that perhaps today was drowned in despondency. Waiting for something more, something exciting, something vibrant. Waiting for the circus to come to town.
Choosing to live rural over urban sometimes feels like a sacrifice. We have fewer employment opportunities and education options. We can feel geographically, and consequently, socially isolated. It’s a bit like living in a nunnery, but your God wears rubber boots and carries a pitch fork.
Upon this realization, I promptly googled “choosing a life of celibacy” and found this. Curiously enough, some of these tips really apply to rurality choice as well.
- Make sure this is something you are very serious about. Don’t expect rural living to be easier than the rat race you’ve gotten yourself into in the city. Be very, very realistic. Imagine what life would be like if you lived with only the population of your current neighbourhood. That great Thai place 15 minutes away? It doesn’t exist.
- Find a friend or mentor that has gone through this period in life and ask questions about his or her reason for making their choice. What brought them to small town BC? If they weren’t born and raised there, chances are they will not be saying “I had a great job opportunity come up.” The answer will likely be lifestyle choice.
- Avoid listening to others’ feelings about your decision, if they do not agree with yours. Rurality is your choice and yours alone. Instead, talk to friends and people that will not judge you, or this choice you have made. Friends that like dirt, and cows, and unemployment.
- Get involved in different hobbies; better not to be around many urban areas you may be attracted to for a while if this can be avoided. You could become involved with some more agricultural activities instead.
Anyway, you catch my drift. Making the decision to “Settle Down” in a place like Grand Forks takes commitment. Do you have what it takes?
I like this reminder. Somtimes it is easier to think thay the grass is always greener on the other side.
This is so true. I’ve lived in both the city and now the country life. It definitely took some adjusting at first but now I prefer it here even though the long cold winters can be abit dull.