Hello, City Mouse! Thinking about moving to the country? How are you at planning?
Even in the relatively crowded urban East, you can find yourself five miles of dirt road from the nearest "convenience store" and ten miles from anything resembling a grocery store. I've visited friends out in the wilds of the hairy-chested West where the nearest town large enough to support a Wal Mart was the best part of a day's drive away. You learn to make lists and stick to them under those circumstances, because if you forget something at the store, it's not like you can run right back out and get it.
In the city or the 'burbs, you get used to twenty-four hour convenience. When I lived deep in Atlanta, I could get Thai food delivered at 3AM; when I lived 'way out in the fringes of the ATL metroplex, the nearest store was a several-mile haul, and if I remembered I needed something at ten at night, well that was just tough, because they'd rolled up the streets and turned off the lights at nine.
So, yeah, I need to run into town tomorrow. But first I need to make a list...
Don't forget film for your camera so you can take photos of all the bears!
ReplyDeleteShootin' Buddy
I have found the happy medium for myself (and have experienced both).
ReplyDeleteMy family has a vacation cabin in coastal Maine that makes Castle Frostbite look suburban - 45 minutes to the grocery store.
I've lived within a 15-minute walk of a reasonably-sized shopping mall.
Neither one suits me very well.
Here at Fortress Z, it's almost exactly 20 minutes to either of the two nearest Walmarts or a 24/7 grocery. There's a gas station stop'n'rob about 10 minutes away if need be, but it's easier (and much cheaper) to make a list and hit the 24/7 store on the way to or from work... or just go down in the cellar and open a jar of home-canned deliciousness.
"When I lived deep in Atlanta, I could get Thai food delivered at 3AM"
ReplyDeleteThat is the most compelling argument I have seen yet for relocating to Atlanta.
For some reason reading this prompted a bit of Mark Knoffler lyric to jump into my head; "...shells for the twelve and razor-wire..."
ReplyDeleteI've lived in the city and the country and prefer the rural bit. The only thing I don't like about the whole planning-errands thing is that, because you plan your trips carefully, you end up doing pretty much everything in one day - grocery store, feed store, smoke shop, that sort of thing. Takes a few hours and I'm introverted to the point of not liking crowds after about thirty minutes.
ReplyDeleteThen again, at least I come back home to peace and quiet. Gotta love the middle of nowhere for that.
Aw, heck, it's only 240 miles to Wally World. Makes for an overnight micro-vacation, taking in bookstores and some shrimp at the Red Lobster. It's worth doing, every couple of months.
ReplyDeleteOne does tend to have lots of backups and spares, of course.
I guess the big advantage is the training in planning ahead. It carries over for life itsownself, leading to a financially comfortable old age. Beats living for the moment--the moment of foreclosure...
We took advantage of the nice weather and ran over to the 2nd largest city in the state for lunch on Saturday. Round trip was 500 miles. We didn't pass a town of more than 1000 people, saw a lot of grass and cows, and lunch was mediocre.
ReplyDeleteTam,
ReplyDelete"I've visited friends out in the wilds of the hairy-chested West where the nearest town large enough to support a Wal Mart was the best part of a day's drive away."
Oh, yeah! Am there, do that! 90 minutes to buy a watch battery or athletic supporter. If the highways close, you'd better have a pantry because the one grocery store is gunna run out of bread & milk pretty quickly.
1. Have a plan.
2. Have a contingency plan.
The other aspect of rural living is you have to be ready for a disruption in services. Generator, fuel, heat, lighting, water, food...
ReplyDeleteA major benefit is that zombies are, of necessity, going to be an urban or suburban phenomenon. Too many bits are going to fall off before they make their way to you.
On the other hand, what happens to a coyote or bear or cougar that chows down on a zombie? Hmmm...
Don't forget to pick up a stack from Polly's Pancakes. You won't regret it!
ReplyDeletewww.pollyspancakeparlor.com
Needs and wants are two separate things. When I was off in the bush of BC that became very clear.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got back to Smithers I wanted a beer. I need a shower.
Gerry
Gerry, there are those of us who would reverse those priorities... ;-)
ReplyDeleteZerCool,
ReplyDeleteI would agree if not for my sense of compassion for my fellow human beings. LOL
Gerry
Small towns have necessities - Wal-Marts only inhabit more densely settled areas.
ReplyDeleteI used to tell folks back in Illinois that I lived 90 miles from the nearest McDonald's. And it was - round trip. But the look on their faces was priceless - "does not computer" does not even come close.
< G G G G G >
Boat Guy - That album (Golden Heart, too) is an unfortunately well-kept secret.
ReplyDeleteJim
It's been swallowed by the suburbs, but I once worked in a grocery store that was at the edge of the metropolis. The shopping center was unfinished, nothing but the grocery store and a Wendy's. As I was scanning and packing the groceries, I was asked "Have you been to the Wendy's yet?" "Uh, no sir." "Well, when ya going?" ".?."
ReplyDeleteI didn't really have a plan to hit the Wendy's, as I drove past several on my way to work. I've pondered that conversation for years.
All those things, and get used to a very limited array of choices for eateries. I wish I could get a bowl of Pho (Vietnamese) here, but I'm lucky there's a Thai place. I admit I miss the culinary variety of Dallas/Fort Worth. Then again, I'm not rubbing elbows with gang-bangers out here, either, so I'm rather enjoying the tradeoff, on the whole. But yeah, I make that list and hit an international market everytime I do go through the big city. That and Ray's SPorting Goods in Dallas. :)
ReplyDeletePhlegmmie,
ReplyDeleteI have come to realize over the past couple days just how much I've come to take having a Fresh Market in walking distance for granted. :o