I have seen LOTS of city people moveing to our small country town in the past year or two.And would like to offer some advise to all you city people who are moveing to the country. *1.Do not complain about how far it is to the nearest store. *2.Do not talk about someone you dont like.You might be talkin about that person's keen. *3.Do not play your car raido as loud as you can.[BOM,BOM,BOM]. *4.Do not throw your garbage out the car window. *5.Do not not yell,throw thing at,or give the finger to.The farmer on the tractor. *6.Do not make a fuss if there is prayer still in the school. *7.Be slow to speak.& Quick to listen. *8.If you see a money box at a vegetable stand.And no one is there. Pay for what you take. *9.conutry people dont care how much better it is in the city. *10.And country people dont want to know how you do things in the city. *11. When you move to the country.Try to conform to the country life. Not make the country like the city. Thank you.

-- HD (home_dad@yahoo.com), October 13, 1999

Answers

Let me add a couple:

Don't bellyache about dogs and cats that aren't tied up. If they cause you trouble, talk to the owner.

Don't blame the neighbor's dog everytime your garbage can is tipped over. There are lots of possums and raccoons and skunks in rural areas, and they do most of the midnight foraging.

Don't burn your leaves when the crops are dry and the wind is blowing.

If someone you don't know waves at you, wave back. Your middle finger is not considered a "wave" in the country either. You will soon be surprised how many people know who you are, when you haven't met them personally. They aren't nosey. The "neighborhood" in the country extends for miles. At least it does in the midwest.

From the city once, but never goin' back, the Lord willing,

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), October 13, 1999.

HD; I'd like to contribute something else that wasn't covered. The country folks move slower and sometimes drive slower ,so GO WITH THE FLOW, and be nice. Just remember they know who lives in their area,and your the only newbie to the country, so they will be watching you from afar... Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), October 13, 1999.

Don't honk at people riding horseback along the road.

Always be on the lookout for deer, cows, etc. on the road.

Be careful driving on gravel roads (slow down!) until you get used to it.

Always, always get permission before setting foot on someone else's land especially when hunting.

If the gate's open, leave it open. If the gate's closed, leave it closed.

Spend time at the local cafe, go to the ballgames, shop at local stores--get to know the folks, let them get to know you.

Pay all your local bills on time--everyone knows who doesn't.

Never piss off the mailman or the fuel deliverers.

Good will and good neighbors are more valuable than gold.

You can flip-off that crazy crop duster, though, if he makes a habit of buzzing your place.

-- Sam Mcgee (weissacre@gwtc.net), October 13, 1999.

Thanks all. You have brought up some very good points.I hope all you city folk will take heed to this good advise. And we'll all getalong as good neighbors. Thanks!

-- hd (home_dad@yahoo.com), October 14, 1999.

This is sort of related, anyway. There is an article containing information on relocation to rural areas on my website entitled "Serious Voluntary Relocation". In addition to some research I have done on this subject, it has some really useful links and books listed on this subject as well. Take a look at the articles it links to that are on Gary North's site in particular.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), October 14, 1999.

Sam, Right on with the crop duster. Some of those guys are the rural equivalent of a drive-by shooting. They oughta be grounded.

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), October 14, 1999.

One of my pet peeves is people who move here from the city & install HUGE lights that can be seen for miles all around their house. There are houses around here that look like Candlestick Park during a game. A little bit of light is great but please leave those city lights in the city. The only lights I want to see at night are the moon & stars.

-- Carolyn m (artchicks@yahoo.com), October 17, 1999.

2 more: If you see one deer, count on there being more you don't see. Most places it takes the sheriff a long time to get from where they are to where you are. You need to be prepared to protect you and yours.

-- Ace (Ace@nospam.com), October 17, 1999.

When you see one of us coming with a full head of steam pulling a stock trailer, PLEASE DON'T pull out in front of us and make us hit the brakes (thus piling up all the animals in the trailer). Do it more than once and you'll learn that we hardly ever forget.

-- Roger (pecosrog@earthlink.net), October 17, 1999.

Waving is important, it is friendliness "from a distance". Don't go bugging your neighbors frequently. If they had wanted neighborhood friendships, they would have moved to the subdivision with 30 houses on a acre. Let them see you doing some manual work, in the yard, whatever. Ask their advice . I had planted an orange tree, something was eating the leaves. I told my neighbor I didn't want to put a chemical on it, didn't like them (truth), he told me to spray soap water on the leaves. This from a man who lived in mobile homes for the past 20 years. Now he lives next door, in a new brick home, and he has a zero mortgage. I lived in the fancy homes for years, now I live in his last mobile home (bought it from him) and I have a mortgage on it. You have to laugh at our choices in life. God's speed to all.

-- Nana (drac@mediaone.net), October 17, 1999.

And if you should find that YOUR mailbox was the cabbage target last night, put it back on the pole and make slaw.

chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 19, 1999.

Great thread (and advice). Reading this reminded me of the good things about country life that I had taken for granted or forgotten.

Something that I'd like to add is that this time of year brings a lot of deer hunters out of the cities. Most of this advice is also good for the deer hunters (not that all of the hunters need the advice, but some do). The sport of deer hunting is great, but please respect other peoples property and lifestyle while doing it (and please be careful with those weapons).

-- Tex (EastTexas@Deer.Hunter), October 19, 1999.