| Many Mid Lifers living in the city dream of moving to | | | | - Many country people drive 4 x 4s because they tow |
| live in the country. Life will be slower, the streets are | | | | horse boxes or trailers and go off road. They are not |
| safer, the kids will grow up in a better environment. It | | | | Chelsea Tractors and are not driven as status |
| will be like a permanent holiday. | | | | symbols. Their drivers resent having to pay high road |
| This may well be true for many families who have | | | | tax for something that they see as essential. Your 4 x |
| made the move and there are many books and TV | | | | 4, on the other hand, which you use to take the kids to |
| programmes to guide others in the right direction. We | | | | school, may not be seen as essential. 4 x 4s in the |
| all know the benefits but what are the drawbacks? - | | | | country have real mud on them, much of which they |
| The Mid Life Devil's Advocate is here to bring some | | | | leave on the road, making it muddy - the country is full |
| balance to the discussion! | | | | of mud from September to May. |
| The Advocate isn't trying to dissuade you from | | | | - Country people kill things to eat. They also kill other |
| following your dreams, just making sure that you're | | | | things which prey on the things that the country people |
| aware of some of the 'warts'. | | | | want to kill to eat. |
| So what is the Devil's Advocate's view of moving to | | | | - In some country communities, 'the apple doesn't fall |
| live in the country? Here are some points to ponder: | | | | far from the tree' and many of the village inhabitants |
| - When you move to your new house in the country | | | | are related - some very closely. They can be very |
| the locals will consider you to be 'Blow Ins' or 'Grockles'. | | | | 'cliquey' |
| They mean the same - you're an outsider. How long | | | | - You may have to drive quite some way to find Illy |
| will this last, you may ask. About 20 years. | | | | coffee and Lemon grass. Even farther to visit the |
| - You will have heard the stories about the next door | | | | theatre. |
| neighbour's cockerel crowing and waking you up at | | | | - The nearest Pizza delivery service may not deliver |
| first light - they're true. Cockerels crow at dawn, very | | | | as far as your house. |
| loudly. | | | | - Your friends will want to come and visit you when it's |
| - Life is slower in the country, which is great. | | | | convenient - for them not you. |
| Sometimes, though, it's much slower. Like when you're | | | | - If you are still working in the city you will have to |
| queuing up at the post office and the three people in | | | | commute, but of course, you can use the time usefully |
| front of you are all keen to have a natter with the | | | | by working on the train. Can you? What if you have to |
| post mistress. | | | | stand all the way? |
| - That is, of course, if the post office hasn't been | | | | - In the summer your country roads will be clogged up |
| closed... | | | | with selfish people from the cities coming to the |
| - The shops that are open don't open late. | | | | country on holiday. Some of them will tow caravans... |
| - The pub is often the social centre of the village - if | | | | - The country is not a multi-cultural environment. |
| that hasn't closed down too because so many houses | | | | Multiculturalism means that a family has moved in from |
| have been bought as second homes that there isn't | | | | the next county - or the city. |
| enough all year round trade to make the business | | | | - Fashions in the country are at least 6 months behind |
| viable. | | | | the city, sometimes as much as 6 years. |
| - It's very dark at night in the country - very few street | | | | - You've left your friends behind and you know that |
| lights to light your way along the pavement. What | | | | you will make new ones. Your kids will, but will you?If |
| pavement? | | | | moving to the country is your dream, don't let the Mid |
| - You may have a great view of the countryside from | | | | Life Devil's Advocate put you off. The points above |
| your house. Hopefully, you won't have a community of | | | | are deliberately provocative and most will never |
| Travellers turning up one day unannounced, to set up | | | | happen to you. Just go into it with your eyes open, |
| home in the field next door, erecting homes without | | | | aware of some of the pitfalls that you might encounter |
| planning permission. | | | | along the way. |
| - Public transport is almost non existent so you have | | | | Good luck and may you fulfil your mid life dreams! |
| to drive everywhere. | | | | |