If you could work for more money in a rural area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I have two early elementary kids and to be completely honest, I wouldn't want them to group up somewhere like that. We have family in some beautiful yet rural parts of the country but there are many limiting things about it -- not as great medical care/access to therapies (important with our SN DS); politically conservative; fewer opportunities for kids to get involved in sports, arts, etc; and it's not likely a place kids will want to or be able to stay or return to because there aren't really great options for jobs.

LCOL areas stay that way for a reason.

I agree with the bolded. After having gone through caring for a family member with chronic illness, I want to be near a very good medical care/access. I cannot imagine schlepping over 50 miles for each medical treatment.

[Anonymous]

Yes but with the goal of FIRE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have friends who did this. Dual doctors, moved to Alaska for $$$$ before having kids for 24 months. Came back to the lower 48 once they got pregnant. And they were in Anchorage, so it really wasn't that bad.

I would entertain it for New England or Pacific NW. No way would I do this in rural Midwest or the South.

But… were they in the heart of the Alaskan Riviera?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No.

1. DH grew up in a rural area until he was like 14. He said the best thing his parents did for him was to move out of the rural area. Nothing to do for teens = get into trouble.
He also said a lot of the teens didn't go to college. The peer group is just different.

2. We are a biracial family, and we want diversity.

3. Too far from a major airport. We have family on the opposite side of the coast, and also in another country, and we like to travel.

Plus all the other things people mentioned.

But, if you like the rural life, and you think your kids will, too, then sure. But, I know my kids would hate it.

Agree with the above. My parents and extended family grew up in a rural area, and everyone from my parents generation onward could not leave fast enough. Opportunities for education and jobs are very limited in rural areas, very few amenities, and the drug use is unreal.

Cousins my age who stayed in the rural communities ended up strung out on drugs and/or had children in their teens. None of them went to college, and one even dropped out of high school.

No way would I do that to my kids.

[Anonymous]

Would not worry about healthcare/dental/therapies, much, in New England

Political conservatism is very real, even in Vermont

Neglected kids at prestigious prep schools… also a thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Rural New England doesn’t have the same pathologies as rural areas of other regions

Uhhh yes it does.

[Anonymous]

Low cost of living rural areas are low cost of living for a reason. The nice rural areas of New England are going to be the same situation as nice rural areas of NY or Virginia. Very nice but not that cheap to live. If they are inexpensive it’s because they’re very remote, not a ton of nice housing stock, no good schools public or private, and very few restaurants/activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there childcare? I’m actively trying to move possibly to rural New England and I have yet to find a daycare wait list under 2 years. If the job is offering on site childcare or enough to cover a nanny and there was at least a decent elementary school nearby, sign me up immediately!

I'm a bit surprised by this. You'd think there would be at least lots of church-based daycare, no?

…half day church preschools for ages 3+? Sure. Full day daycare year round that allows me to hold down a full time job? Not so much. I asked around among my friends from my hometown with kids: they all have some combination of stay-at-home parents, grandparents providing childcare, and/or home daycare. Apparently the difference between rural New England childcare and DC childcare is the price (if I could get a spot in the daycare it’s half the price I’m paying now), not the availability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have friends who did this. Dual doctors, moved to Alaska for $$$$ before having kids for 24 months. Came back to the lower 48 once they got pregnant. And they were in Anchorage, so it really wasn't that bad.

I would entertain it for New England or Pacific NW. No way would I do this in rural Midwest or the South.

Geographic affirmative action also still exists

[Anonymous]

Yes, if we could afford a nice NE boarding school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes

Rural New England doesn’t have the same pathologies as rural areas of other regions

Uhhh yes it does.

Yes, indeed! Drugs, lousy education and healthcare + A lot of MAGAs.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the town you target. A very close friend of mine has 2 kids now in HS and getting ready for college who moved to a very small town south. Now she is def well travelled and educated as her husband is. They just really enjoyed that small town feel. They were big time athletes in HS and both their kids are super swimmers. Her oldest got a scholarship to a great CA school with swimming. They don't live in a rural area per se but absolutely in a smaller community that is not near a major city. It's a very unique area so I would say still a social aspect to it but again not city the way we would imagine in DMV.

My point is that it depends on the exact community you are considering and to an extent your family. Her kids are really great, well adjusted and just great. I'm of the opinion that it doesn't really matter so much where your kids are but who they are and what their personalities are like.

[Anonymous]

^PS I would also suggest that it is important you are happy. My friend very much loves her community and she's very rooted in it. I think it prob impacted her kids and it's prob a great thing for them. The thing people don't realize about city is you have this exposure to a lot of experiences and people but as you grow up you can have that. When they are young, it's more important to have your kids know what stability and community look like. I am a firm believer that my kids don't have to be around diversity and those with less money to have empathy and appreciation of culture. If they don't have it, they won't get it simply by being around this. It's not external but internal and it comes from developing them as human beings not just ensuring they are around such.

I also think education comes in many forms and going to a good academic institution isn't all that if the kid is into something else besides being a professional. You need to grow up most importantly in an area you are comfortable in. Find your people and find your home. The rest comes with time.

That said, I am a city person through and through - hah!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^PS I would also suggest that it is important you are happy. My friend very much loves her community and she's very rooted in it. I think it prob impacted her kids and it's prob a great thing for them. The thing people don't realize about city is you have this exposure to a lot of experiences and people but as you grow up you can have that. When they are young, it's more important to have your kids know what stability and community look like. I am a firm believer that my kids don't have to be around diversity and those with less money to have empathy and appreciation of culture. If they don't have it, they won't get it simply by being around this. It's not external but internal and it comes from developing them as human beings not just ensuring they are around such.

I also think education comes in many forms and going to a good academic institution isn't all that if the kid is into something else besides being a professional. You need to grow up most importantly in an area you are comfortable in. Find your people and find your home. The rest comes with time.

That said, I am a city person through and through - hah!

You don’t see the need to have your kids around diversity or people with less money?
That very much the sentiment here in this area, and you might be able to isolate your child from people like that.
Good luck

[Anonymous]

I’m in what I would say is a semi-rural area (was rural not too long ago, and now feels pretty suburban), and that’s the perfect combo for me. Lots of farms and livestock, but also the stores, restaurants, and medical care I need within a 15- minute drive, and 30-45 minutes to the closest cities. I would not go any more rural than this.