Apart from the many pleasures it offers, such as privacy, land, and the opportunity to pursue your dream of self-reliance, the countryside often lacks the conveniences of the city life. Things such as nighttime entertainment, thriving amenities and easily- accessible services of all kinds will be gone. If you’ve adjusted to city life, your transition to greener pastures might not be a smooth one. In case you find adjusting difficult, here are some tips so you don’t have to learn the hard way. After all, when moving to the country, there are some principal considerations.
Moving to the Country: Principal Considerations
Prepare yourself
Living away from shopping centers often revolves around building reserves and being prepared for emergencies. You might be living in the Outback, miles, and miles from the first neighbor, not to mention a hospital or a pharmacy. It’s important that you are well-stocked with medications and supplies you can use to take care of yourself and the others. To this end, it’s essential that you have a complete and valid first-aid kit both in your home and your car. On top of that, keep in mind that country roads are nothing like smooth city streets, especially in bad weather. Make sure you pack your car with necessary supplies.
Buy in bulk and store
Living in the country will definitely give you a taste of independence. The other side of the coin means that rural areas, even small towns don’t have access to 24-hour convenience stores. Sometimes the nearest groceries are so far that everyday shopping becomes a hassle. Because of that, you need to get accustomed to buying food and toiletries in bulk. You should also be making stocks for the days when you can’t reach the stores. High on the list are essential toiletry items such as toilet paper, toothpaste and bath products. But first and foremost, you need to make sure you always have enough food for a week.
Move only items you need
On the other hand, transitioning to the country means that you can begin with a clean slate. Meaning you can leave much of the clutter from your city apartment behind. Throw a garage sale or donate all the items which you don’t need anymore. The fact that you’re downsizing means you don’t have to pay a fortune to a moving company to move the items you’re keeping with utmost care and professionalism. For instance, this removalist operating in Sydney can pack and unpack your things for you. They even supply the packing materials without any hidden charges.
Learn to conserve
Living on your own often leaves you short of many public resources such as communal sewer lines or weekly garbage pickup. On the other hand, you have the opportunity to live closer to the land, conserving energy and resources, generating less waste than you would otherwise. Learn how to recycle different home supplies and build a composting pit. If you’d like to grow your own veggies and herbs, you need to know how to fight weeds in a non-harmful way, respecting the surrounding vegetation. Since your septic tank will need periodical pumping, pay attention to what you dispose of.
Respect the wildlife
Moving to the country also brings you closer to many four-legged neighbors. If you’re in Europe, you might encounter rabbits, foxes, deer, and other continental game. While in Australia, you’re in for some kangaroos, curious wallabies, several species of hedgehogs and countless reptiles. Since most of Australia’s native animals are hard to spot, it’s important for you to know how to interact with these indigenous species. In the United States, you may encounter bears, bobcats, and raccoons.
Although living in the country is all about becoming independent, you’ll soon recognize the value of relying on the people around you. If you know what the country has to offer and what you want, you’re good to go.
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