The Sunflower and The Cashier

After eight years living in a major city, I found myself moving out to the country to live with my parents in a rural town two hours away. This town is an hour away from the closest big city, about 45 minutes away from a bigger town, and surrounded by smaller townships. Instead of being surrounded by buildings, the sound of traffic and sirens, and people bumping into each other, I get to wake up to the lake out my bedroom window, the sound of loons, and the silence of being out in the woods.

                  At first, this transition was incredibly challenging, as I felt completely disconnected from civilization and things to do. In our town, which is about a 10-minute drive from our home, there is a grocery store, three gas stations, a school, a post office, a bank, a marina, a social services building, a library, a township office, a café, clinic, and a dentist office. Until recently, there was also an employment centre. Not to mention, the number of churches. So, really, there is all the amenities one would need, but it sure didn’t feel like this when I first moved out here.

                  One would think that moving out to a rural area would mean services were less accessible, but my experience has been the opposite. I was able to get connected to the family doctor here within eight months, whereas in the city, I had been on a waitlist for close to eight years. Out here, I also get free counselling and unlimited sessions, whereas this would be extremely hard to come by in metropolitan areas. Most of the counselling in the city comes at a cost or has extremely long waitlists. These two things have been extremely valuable to me.

                  One thing I also learned when I moved out here, was just how important owning a vehicle and being able to drive are out here. With limited options for work, I drive 45 minutes to work each day to a different town. In the city, I had grown accustomed to walking, bike riding, or taking the bus or and Uber. I did not own a vehicle until a few months before living here, and I am so glad I did purchase a vehicle because I did not foretell me having to move where I would need it. I did purchase a two-wheel drive vehicle though, so had to borrow my parents’ AWD vehicle for several months during the winter as my car wouldn’t do well getting out of our dirt laneway.

It has also made me appreciate having employment a lot more. In the past, I have jumped from job to job without a back up plan because I knew the city would have other opportunities. Out here, I know that jobs are hard to come by and I am extremely appreciative of the work I do have. I feel for the people who don’t drive or don’t have much education out here, because they may be left with very limited options.

I also find that the people in rural and small towns are much more friendly and neighbourly than in the city. Everyone seems to know each other and get along. I attended a line dancing group with some older women for a while, as well as attended church a handful of times, and now the people I met there will regularly talk to me. I have also gotten to know the woman at the post office, the librarians, and the receptionists at the social services building.

It is harder to meet people my age out here though, as it tends to be a lot of older people/people who are retired. I have come across a handful of people my age but, maybe it’s me assuming, we don’t seem to have much in common. Or maybe, I just haven’t given people a chance out here. I also thought it would be difficult to meet a partner out here, but seeing as there’s technology and thanks to Bumble, I met my boyfriend, who happened to live in another town about 25 minutes away.

I was living with my parents so that helped the feeling of isolation but when they were away doing errands or out of town, I quickly feel isolated. I know I have friends I can call, but it does feel very lonely and a bit scary to be out in the woods by myself.

Luckily, we only live about one hour away from a major city, so if I did want to do more or go to a specific store/the mall I could. While this major city doesn’t offer much, the capital does, for example big events my boyfriend and I would do there instead, which is two hours away.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by how I have adapted to this change in living, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It has given me a new appreciation for things in life. I am not extremely outdoorsy, which a lot of the people out here are, but I do enjoy my walks in nature and in town. Although, at times I miss being able to walk at night, where there are streetlights in the city and passing people on my walks. There is a greater sense of serenity and peace out here though.

I find that when I go into the city now, I feel overwhelmed very quickly and do not miss the high paced style of living there. Life has slowed down, and I feel less of a need to be rushing towards goals in life and appreciating each day as it comes in my new home.