As you find yourself driving between cities on one of the smaller highways that pass through our rural landscape, you sometimes catch a glimpse of an old building off in the distance, peeling or crumbling away among the wildflowers and open land, held back from the road by old fenceposts and wire. It’s obvious that it once was well cared for and the lines of wear and gravity show that it has stood firmly in that place for some time. You might find yourself wondering what it would be like to live there, to fix it up and find yourself waking with sun coming through the window and to look out at the same highway in the distance, from the perspective of a very different life.
These rural places are a significant part of our collective culture. Even for lifelong urban dwellers, the image of a farmhouse or ranch stirs feelings within us that speak to a part of ourselves. These sorts of places were the starting point for every city and town that came after, the cradles of our society. Self-sufficient homes for independent people, many of them still remain outside the cities that grew up next to them. Also, because of the slower pace of development and change in most rural areas, many of these properties retain much of their historic attributes, marking a place in time and a way of life in our history.
However, part of the reason that many of these properties are in decline is the same reason that they remain in a historic condition: the real estate value of a property follows the vitality of it’s community. There has been a steady tread of migration to urban and suburban areas worldwide that has left many rural communities with missing parts. The structure of a small town economy is delicate and easily affected by just a few people deciding to leave, taking their skills and resources with them. The fragile bubble of prosperity depends on the commitment of the community to itself, remaining cohesive with the strong influences of a global economy and the draw of major cities.
Living in the country isn’t easy. Much of what would be taken care of collectively in denser communities becomes an individual responsibility. However, that doesn’t mean that a network of community services doesn’t exist. The activities of governance and social services are more informal and often depend on developing relationships with people who can help you and developing your own skill set to help others. The bond between neighbors becomes a part of your daily life, creating a sense of belonging that speaks to a very basic part of human nature.
If you find yourself feeling drawn to these places and the life you could see for yourself there, it is becoming increasingly possible to make that a reality. If the property is legitimately historic, there are resources through the national register of historic places to help you restore it and increase it’s value. For a person or family starting out as property owners, the cost of land or buildings is much more affordable and could provide an opportunity to try new ideas that need space to develop. Also, for many of us the path of our careers is taking us further away from traditional offices towards a professional life that is primarily digital. People are increasingly able to leverage themselves across geographic lines and to access the skills and goods of others in turn.
Access to the most important information and culture is no longer restricted to the trendiest cities and exclusive groups. More people are setting out to make their own homestead to do something different in America’s most traditional communities. So, if the rewards of country living are something you want for yourself, there are many beautiful places waiting to be cared for as well as communities that need new members with energy and ideas.
