Small town -- rural country living
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8/22/2007
We retired and moved to the country so I could live my dream of breeding horses. Country living takes a period of adjustment, but I love country living, and it would be much better, if I was able to do all I have planned.
Several points to consider before locating in a small town follow. Distance to a full care hospital is crucial. The "flight for life" 'Coptor costs over $10,000. Driving an hour with injuries or severe illness is not always a viable alternative. Check out thelocal health care services, such as meals on wheels, respite care for those caring for a senior or disabled child? You may not need any of these services, but they may need you, to help where you can.
Will the altitude be a problem? What about the air quality? What are the risks of natural disaster? Hurricaines, earthquakes, tornados? fire? flood? Freezing storms? All of the above? How well can you prepare and take care of yourself? In rural areas the county sherrif may be three towms away? Volunteer fire departments my limit service to the city limits, so find out before relocating. Custer and the Black Hills generally have wonderful fresh air, except when forest fires darken the sky with smoke. Smoke from a fire two states away may cause breathing difficulty on a humid day. Threre is also the possibility of forest fires burning out of control to consider.
Services such as Cable TV, Internet,and trash removal vary widely within a community. Some areas do not offer mail devivery to your property. You may have to rent a PO box in town, or use a mail box some distance from your home. Does your property get cell service? Don't believe the sales people. Test it yourself, enroute and at your desination.Read every word of CC&R's. Some items may sound good, but make resale difficult. Each lot owner must pay for trash and snow removal. Built on lots only? Occupied lots only? A limit of two horses per 5 acres, may keep some buyers away. Fire safe landscaping required, may mean homs without trees shading southern exposures, "foundation" shrubs, or flowers under your windows.
Distance to "buy milk, bread, and aspirin" is important. With gas at $3.00/gal, a SUV that really gets 10 mpg. and a "short" 10 mile commute, a round trip to town costs $6.00 round trip, adding $2.00 to each of the three items mentioned. If the nearest WAL-MART (or equivalent) is 50 miles from town, the total milage is about 120 miles, plus the driving one does in town. Learn to make lists, for
Liz | Custer, SD