City Slicker Habits That Don’t Work When You Move to Land
Moving to the country means letting go of some old ways. These habits might work in town, but they’ll make life harder when you’re living on land.
Leaving Lights On Everywhere
Out here, you’ll notice the electric bill more—especially if you’re on solar or a tight budget.
Leaving lights blazing in every room like you’re still in a subdivision is a quick way to waste money or power.
Expecting Weekly Trash Pickup
Most rural homes don’t have curbside trash. You’ll need to take it to the dump yourself or find a local service—if there is one.
And no, no one’s coming to grab your bulk junk.
Spraying the Lawn Like It’s a Golf Course
In the country, a “perfect lawn” isn’t the goal—it’s keeping weeds back and critters out.
Dumping chemicals everywhere just makes your soil worse, your animals sick, or your water contaminated.
Waiting on the City to Fix Things
Power goes out? Pipes burst? Fence falls down? No city department’s coming to the rescue.
You’ll either fix it yourself or learn fast. There’s no hotline for rural problems.
Shopping Every Couple Days
The nearest store might be 30 minutes away, so that habit of “popping in” for milk or snacks won’t work anymore.
You’ll need to plan ahead and stock up, or get real comfortable with doing without.
Ignoring Wildlife
You’re sharing the land now—with snakes, coyotes, raccoons, and more. Leaving food out or walking around barefoot at night can come back to bite you.
Literally.
Putting Trash Outside in Bags
No bin? No lid? Then don’t act surprised when raccoons, dogs, or bears rip through your garbage.
Out here, you need secure storage or you’re feeding half the forest.
Expecting a Normal Internet Connection
Fast, stable Wi-Fi might be out of reach. Streaming, video calls, and gaming might not be realistic depending on your setup.
You’ll want to check before signing up for remote work—or your kids’ online classes.
Driving Like the Roads Are Paved
Country roads are rough, narrow, and full of wildlife. Drive fast, and you’ll blow a tire, lose control, or hit a deer.
Slow down and learn how to read the road.
Thinking the Rules Are the Same
In town, there are rules for everything. In the country, it’s more about common sense—and respecting your neighbors.
Shoot safely, mind your animals, and don’t burn stuff without checking conditions.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
