Which Would You Do?

The only reason we're considering moving out of our town at the end of the road that's fifty miles from pretty much anything is because of health care. As we age we're likely to need more health services than what we have here, and it'll most likely become harder for us to drive ourselves to care.

This is our front yard. Right now, the plan (subject to change) is to stay here as long as possible.


As far as the question in general, I think it depends on needs. For people who are aging, it can become difficult and overwhelming or downright impossible to care for a rural place. Driving skills may deteriorate, making it difficult to drive even a few miles into town. It might become impossible to clear snow from driveways or even steps. If we had to move somewhere at our stage in life, nearing retirement, we would definitely be looking at the compromise house near the services we'll need as we age, not looking at somewhere in the boonies where life is so much harder for older people. We watched FIL and my mom as they aged and the hard lessons they were forced to learn were not lost on us.

At any age I would never want to live an hour from a grocery store or other basic necessities. BTDT in our twenties. Never again.

I love the job availability of the city and lots of things to do, but the cost of rentals is just too high to get into safe area in home that is well maintained. I also get to see a lot of scams and weird stuff if I try to rent cheaper including violent crimes for trying to remain living alone with cops who don't ever catch anyone who did this stuff....

Pay dropped so low in my hometown, a small city of 500k, the small town pay and cost of living is looking more and more desirable. I'm really craving a spot where I can afford to own and maintain my own home again and not worry about crimes against women or dirty cops who some of the crimes. Yes, I've seen rural areas with lots of scams trying to use the females who moved for work alone to rural area to like house the methies and ruined these for disability pay/welfare benefits plus cops who keep these women trapped until the male gets in so much trouble, he ends up in prison. Then female got access to social worker from another county who got her moved to battered women's shelter out of abuser's area...This lady knew others who moved to this rural area alone and treated to same scam...

Rural property here has some VERY affordable newly flipped properties with lots of custom stuff done to it including its own high speed internet line run to it just abandoned and sold DIRT CHEAP. After looking around more, can usually tell you anything that is good deal usually has some catches so better to move where you have some work contacts, family or friends to avoid getting into trouble...Some of these rural areas are testing new people with some expensive introductions to people who will screw with you, so keep some extra money to deal with surprises or desire to leave doesn't hurt. Rent first is REALLY suggested and may be shocked at the number of landlords who will screw someone new or put you next to someone screwed up (drunk, druggy, violent, destructive, threatening) who the cops ignore until he does a felony and can be housed at state prison instead of local jail...

Would also recommend you test out local internet, especially the little rural telephone cooperatives who offer country internet service, by using the library or restaurant's connection to make sure it will meet your needs. Sometimes the politics in some small towns are so destructive, one argument could get your internet screwed so badly you may not be able to do business so check out cell tower reception too. National internet company is less likely to be a problem.