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Started By
Message
Qualms of a late 20's redneck city slicker
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:15 am
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:15 am
Im at a crossroads in my life, and im not sure which way i want my future to go. Born and raised in a small town (pop, 2500), but have lived and coexisted in several subcultures and have been in the "city" for the last seven years. I have a really good job, making great money for someone under 30 with only partial college education.
At this point, im 50/50. Part of me wants to stay in the city, strive to reach the financial goals i set for myself, become more culturally aware, more politically aware, more travelled than i already am. But then there is that nagging other half that wants to minimalize my exposure to this society and its deprivation. To move to the country, live a more simple life; not detatch from society and become a hermit, just build a nice house on a winding road in NELA and spend my remaining years learning the land like my elders did. Either way, i plan to finish my degree, most likely in ag business or agronomy.
I know there are posters of various ages and locations and cultures, but im sure most will say they would choose the life of country living. Have any of you or are any of you dealing with these internal struggles?
At this point, im 50/50. Part of me wants to stay in the city, strive to reach the financial goals i set for myself, become more culturally aware, more politically aware, more travelled than i already am. But then there is that nagging other half that wants to minimalize my exposure to this society and its deprivation. To move to the country, live a more simple life; not detatch from society and become a hermit, just build a nice house on a winding road in NELA and spend my remaining years learning the land like my elders did. Either way, i plan to finish my degree, most likely in ag business or agronomy.
I know there are posters of various ages and locations and cultures, but im sure most will say they would choose the life of country living. Have any of you or are any of you dealing with these internal struggles?
33
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:17 am to Whiskey Richard
Enjoy the city until you have kids, then move to the country. You can always visit on the weekend.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:19 am to Whiskey Richard
Always. But my job is in the city and I hate traffic. Plus, the wife would not like being that far from the comforts of city life: boutiques, specialty grocery, etc.
It's all a compromise. I live in the city so that I'm able to experience the country and marsh as much as possible.
It's all a compromise. I live in the city so that I'm able to experience the country and marsh as much as possible.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:29 am to Motorboat
quote:
Wife
That pretty much seals it. Your staying in the city brother.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:31 am to Whiskey Richard
I'd say you should live the first half of your life preparing to make the second half as enjoyable as possible. Make your money and experience all life has to offer while you can. You don't want to be 60 wishing you would have done more
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:35 am to Whiskey Richard
I'm a couple years ahead of you, and deal with the same internal conflict daily.
I live in town (not quite a big city), work in town, would like to be anywhere except in town. Wife works in town, doesn't really care where we live as long as she has internet and television. I have 3 little girls who are in dance, choir, t-ball, and all other sorts of activities. Moving to the country would be the best thing for me. I don't mind driving an hour to work. My wife wouldn't either. The problem arises when the kids are older and need to be in town for functions after school and on the weekend. As much as I'd like to move them out into the swamp and keep them to myself, I know that's probably not feasible right now. Kids need to be in a good school, and rural schools are generally of lesser educational quality than those in the suburbs (with exceptions, of course). For now I'm staying in town. I'm about to buy a small farm from a family member. It's close enough that I could go a couple times per week before or after work to tend to things, and on the weekends. It has a small house that I'm planning on using as our camp. Eventually, when the kids move out my wife and I will move there.
As far as financial ramifications, I really don't give a shite about money. If I could move to the country and farm tomatoes and nightcrawlers just to make enough money to keep the lights on it would be fine with me. I've seen a lot of people leave this earth, and never saw a wad of cash in the casket when they closed it.
I live in town (not quite a big city), work in town, would like to be anywhere except in town. Wife works in town, doesn't really care where we live as long as she has internet and television. I have 3 little girls who are in dance, choir, t-ball, and all other sorts of activities. Moving to the country would be the best thing for me. I don't mind driving an hour to work. My wife wouldn't either. The problem arises when the kids are older and need to be in town for functions after school and on the weekend. As much as I'd like to move them out into the swamp and keep them to myself, I know that's probably not feasible right now. Kids need to be in a good school, and rural schools are generally of lesser educational quality than those in the suburbs (with exceptions, of course). For now I'm staying in town. I'm about to buy a small farm from a family member. It's close enough that I could go a couple times per week before or after work to tend to things, and on the weekends. It has a small house that I'm planning on using as our camp. Eventually, when the kids move out my wife and I will move there.
As far as financial ramifications, I really don't give a shite about money. If I could move to the country and farm tomatoes and nightcrawlers just to make enough money to keep the lights on it would be fine with me. I've seen a lot of people leave this earth, and never saw a wad of cash in the casket when they closed it.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:36 am to Motorboat
quote:
Always. But my job is in the city and I hate traffic. Plus, the wife would not like being that far from the comforts of city life: boutiques, specialty grocery, etc.
This is my situation, though she is warming up to the idea the older she gets. And Feliciana, i have been around and done a lot, but the older i get, the more content i am with Tensas Parish and levees and fields and a nice wave from a passing stranger on the hwy
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:37 am to Whiskey Richard
Born in a small, all-white Southern town. Now living in New Orleans. Quite a change, indeed. Truth be told, I needed the change. Spending the first 30+ years of your life in the same place isn't good for you. It's good that you've experienced both worlds.
What part of the country are you in now? I don't think I could handle a northern city.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself to plan out life. You can move at any time. Our society is too immobile.
I have a cousin in agribusiness who lives in rural FL, travels to Miami weekly and goes all over the country for meetings. If you were in that field, there's a good chance you could have the best of both worlds.
What part of the country are you in now? I don't think I could handle a northern city.
Don't put too much pressure on yourself to plan out life. You can move at any time. Our society is too immobile.
I have a cousin in agribusiness who lives in rural FL, travels to Miami weekly and goes all over the country for meetings. If you were in that field, there's a good chance you could have the best of both worlds.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:40 am to OldHickory
Im in BR. Im not currently in the ag industry, but wiuld love to eventually. Most of family is. Just scared of going from 100k a year to "starting over" for a few years.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:42 am to Whiskey Richard
Hoss, personally I think you'd be crazy to give up that kind of money to start over.... unless you just absolutely hate it and it's killing you.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:45 am to OldHickory
I absolutely hate being away from my area during hunting season. I know with a some of my connections, finishing a degree in ag business could eventually produce a similar financial situation. It just might take 6 years. But the lack of time i have to do whats in my sig pic kills me
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:45 am to Whiskey Richard
quote:
the more content i am with Tensas Parish and levees and fields and a nice wave from a passing stranger on the hwy
Me too brotha. Me too. Instead I'm stuck in an office with the phone ringing 80+ times a day and someone always wanting something.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:46 am to Whiskey Richard
I would love to live the simple life in the country or in a coastal parish, but I know my fiancé would never go for it. However, I liked living in New Orleans, maybe try and pick a city were you will still be close to outdoors.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:48 am to Whiskey Richard
Are we the same person?
I'm pretty much accepted that I'm going to be living in a city, probably till my retirement. As someone who was raised in very rural LA, it has it's perks. It doesn't take an hour to run to town to get ketchup anymore
With that said, my desire to have land, a garden, and basically be self sufficient is always in the back of my mind.
I go back home to my parents place in the middle of the woods, surrounded by 35,000 acres of national forest, see my Dad's garden, see him shooting squirrels, rabbits, deer, etc off his front porch and cooking them that night, all that just makes me miss it more.
I do like my "city life" though. I like the aspect of a neighborhood and community. I like the restaurants, the shops, etc. I like the 5 minute commute.
I'm content right now, but the calmness of the rural life will always be in the back of my mind.
I'm pretty much accepted that I'm going to be living in a city, probably till my retirement. As someone who was raised in very rural LA, it has it's perks. It doesn't take an hour to run to town to get ketchup anymore
With that said, my desire to have land, a garden, and basically be self sufficient is always in the back of my mind.
I go back home to my parents place in the middle of the woods, surrounded by 35,000 acres of national forest, see my Dad's garden, see him shooting squirrels, rabbits, deer, etc off his front porch and cooking them that night, all that just makes me miss it more.
I do like my "city life" though. I like the aspect of a neighborhood and community. I like the restaurants, the shops, etc. I like the 5 minute commute.
I'm content right now, but the calmness of the rural life will always be in the back of my mind.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:50 am to Whiskey Richard
Used to daily, but with a young one I'm going to stick it out until she finishes HS at minimum. Right location, wife would live on houseboat or in the country in a heartbeat. I envied my grandparents lifestyle, few chickens, couple cows, a hog raised for slaughter, little smokehouse, big garden, etc.. Coming thru the depression, they learned to be minimalist and stuck to that way of living even after it got better. Just kept socking away cash in coffee cans and cigar boxes.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:54 am to Whiskey Richard
Make it while you can. Save. Retire early. Enjoy the last half of your life, worry free.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 7:57 am to Whiskey Richard
I hear ya bud, I hear ya.
My job will dictate where I go in 2-3 years then I'll make my decision from there. I'll likely live in a small town, but will 100% buy something out in the sticks. I'm eyeing something like 100 acres.
Gonna build a bigass metal shop and finish off 1000 sq' or so living area and dig a ridiculous pond. Just a place to take the kids to fish, shoot, hunt a little, ride 4 wheelers and horses.
I'm making a 10th of what I'll be making in the future, but I'm probably living in the biggest house I'll ever live in.
My job will dictate where I go in 2-3 years then I'll make my decision from there. I'll likely live in a small town, but will 100% buy something out in the sticks. I'm eyeing something like 100 acres.
Gonna build a bigass metal shop and finish off 1000 sq' or so living area and dig a ridiculous pond. Just a place to take the kids to fish, shoot, hunt a little, ride 4 wheelers and horses.
I'm making a 10th of what I'll be making in the future, but I'm probably living in the biggest house I'll ever live in.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 8:02 am to Whiskey Richard
waxing philosophical, eh?
I think there are things in the city that I would miss if I didn’t live here, but the big issue for me is commute time and having a job that has relatively flexible hours. My job (and most of my job opportunities) are in the city, and I would rather have a 10-minute commute and a farther drive on the weekend to go hunt/fish, than the reverse. I also work a 4-10 schedule right now (though for a long time it was 4-9s and 4 on Friday) and when I want to take off a morning or an afternoon it is generally pretty doable. I think (but am not 100% sure because I haven’t really pursued it) that if I tried to get a job out of town it would pay much less and possibly require a lot more hours/overtime, so what I would gain in “living in the country” I would lose on the back end by making much less money and having a less flexible employer, which would seriously cut into my ability to hunt/fish.
Another big thing is that I spend the majority of my effort trying to learn the public land opportunities that are near my house, because this will maximize the amount of time I can spend in the woods/on the boat.
Just my .02
I think there are things in the city that I would miss if I didn’t live here, but the big issue for me is commute time and having a job that has relatively flexible hours. My job (and most of my job opportunities) are in the city, and I would rather have a 10-minute commute and a farther drive on the weekend to go hunt/fish, than the reverse. I also work a 4-10 schedule right now (though for a long time it was 4-9s and 4 on Friday) and when I want to take off a morning or an afternoon it is generally pretty doable. I think (but am not 100% sure because I haven’t really pursued it) that if I tried to get a job out of town it would pay much less and possibly require a lot more hours/overtime, so what I would gain in “living in the country” I would lose on the back end by making much less money and having a less flexible employer, which would seriously cut into my ability to hunt/fish.
Another big thing is that I spend the majority of my effort trying to learn the public land opportunities that are near my house, because this will maximize the amount of time I can spend in the woods/on the boat.
Just my .02
Posted on 1/8/14 at 8:04 am to Whiskey Richard
Move to the small town and work hard at making the best living you can make out there. In the rat race, you need a lot more money because you are trying to ease the misery of city life. In the country, you won't need all of that stuff or the pressure of earning enough to buy it all.
And don't think that living in a city will make your spouse happy either. She'll be caught up in the rat race as much or more than you.
As far as cultural and political awareness, you can develop that in other ways besides residing in a big city.
My advice, for what it's worth, is keep it simple and you won't regret it.
And don't think that living in a city will make your spouse happy either. She'll be caught up in the rat race as much or more than you.
As far as cultural and political awareness, you can develop that in other ways besides residing in a big city.
My advice, for what it's worth, is keep it simple and you won't regret it.
Posted on 1/8/14 at 8:06 am to Whiskey Richard
I grew up in NELA (Mecca actually) and can't imagine living there again. I do miss the hunting and fishing all year long, however. I got out of my hunting lease this past year and found out yesterday that I can get it back as soon as the current guy's lease expires mid-Spring. This has calmed my fears of living the next ten years or so of my life not hunting or fishing. I have been like a caged animal this last year.
My situation is somewhat the same. I make a living in the construction industry and have worked in many big cities during my career. I now live on the Northshore and work in the office, but have to visit my jobsites weekly. This takes me from NOLA to BR to Northshore to places in Mississippi often. This changes up the monotony for me and things will be better as soon as I can get back in the woods. I can't imagine me living in BR again battling the daily grind of that place each day, so I know how you feel.
I hope you find what it is you want and pursue it to the fullest. These last few months have taught me that live is too short to live miserable wanting more out of it. I have a few changes that I am working on to make 2014 my best year yet.
My situation is somewhat the same. I make a living in the construction industry and have worked in many big cities during my career. I now live on the Northshore and work in the office, but have to visit my jobsites weekly. This takes me from NOLA to BR to Northshore to places in Mississippi often. This changes up the monotony for me and things will be better as soon as I can get back in the woods. I can't imagine me living in BR again battling the daily grind of that place each day, so I know how you feel.
I hope you find what it is you want and pursue it to the fullest. These last few months have taught me that live is too short to live miserable wanting more out of it. I have a few changes that I am working on to make 2014 my best year yet.
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