Considering a tiny home lifestyle? Are you wondering if you should stay closer to urban centres, in your comfortable bubble, or venture out into the unimaginable world of the rural living? In this article, we try to present to you the benefits of living rural in your tiny home and the cons of it. Indeed, these are not all the pros and cons, and your individual situation will also significantly alter these lists.
But, for now, they can serve to help you get a clearer idea if you are considering a life in the country.
The pros of living the rural life
Privacy – If you live in a big city or a closed-in area, you probably feel like you are being continuously watched. But, not when you take a walk on the rural side. From sunrise to sundown, you’ll have the liberty and privacy to do anything you want without another human being taking notice. With a tiny home, there’s the added advantage of like-minded individual surrounding you.
The neighbours – Speaking of like-minded people, you’ll probably find friendlier neighbours int the rural community. Plus with tiny homes, they tend to be far away. No more hearing the neighbour’s house party or listening to them mow their lawns just as you’re trying to enjoy relaxing dusk. Having neighbours be more spread out gives you the peace and tranquillity you’ve been wanting.
Space to grow your own food – A country life allows plenty of room to plant those vegetables and truly live off your land. Many say you haven’t tasted an apple until it’s been taken from your own tree. It’s affordable, healthier and can also earn you a little added income if you decide to sell it.
Less stress – The natural benefit of country living is less stress. With no outside stimulation of busy roads, flickering lights, and endless chatter, you’ll discover your inner self be calmer and relaxed. This can enhance focus and spirit, making you a better person to live with—a victory for you and your family.
Cleaner air – Whether you recognise it or not, the air in the city isn’t exactly pristine. Due to exhaust fumes, chemicals, and other city toxins, we’re all inhaling in not so stellar air. Rural life is literally the breath of fresh air for you.
Self-sufficient living – There’s something about surviving off the land, going back to nature, and being off the grid. It’s an evolutionary urge in all of us to gain our own living and recognise that we genuinely can survive on our own. Rural existence in tiny houses fuels this self-reliance and lets us know we can take care of ourselves and our planet.
The cons of living the rural life
Isolating – Where many see privacy, others see isolation. Those who live in country areas can go ages without seeing another living being. If you enjoy the social life and need the rest of the world to be aware of what you’re up to, then rural existence probably isn’t for you.
Slower internet and cable services – About 35% of the rural populations have delayed or interrupted the internet. If you depend on the internet for your business or just can’t live without it, you may find rural living intolerable.
Limited accessibility to everything – Driving up to the grocery store may take an added 30 minutes. Going to the cinema an additional hour. Depending on how near you are to the adjacent city, rural existence can make convenience really tricky.
Slow emergency response – If someone has a medical emergency, it might take the emergency responders a solid 30-40 minutes longer to get to you. And we all understand in emergencies, each second counts. This is something to reflect on if you already hold life-threatening illnesses.
Finding employment – Rural regions aren’t exactly brimming with jobs. Unless you’re a producer (and a good one at that), you might find yourself travelling a great distance to get that paycheck. If you’re intending on working from home, remember you can have problems with high-speed internet so it may not be feasible.
Poor education – Rural neighbourhoods also lack good schools. They don’t hold the support or funding to provide the children of the place with the quality education they merit. This is a problem for you, your children, and society in general.
So there you have it, the pros and cons of living rural in a tiny home. For more information about rural communities and country life when it comes to living the tiny lifestyle, take a look at our blog.