Let's face it, after the hustle and bustle of city life, fighting traffic every day, and dealing with increasing pollution, a move to the countryside sounds more than a little appealing. While pristine views, fresh air, and quiet roads beckon, a careful consideration of all the pros and cons of such a move will help you determine if now is the time to begin searching for that two story farmhouse and twenty acres of pasture you've always dreamed of or if you have just been bitten by the "grass is always greener" bug.

Country living has a great deal of appeal for many reasons. Fresh air and country views often rate at the top of people's pro-country list. There is nothing in the world like waking up to fresh, clean air each morning and being able to stargaze from your backyard each night. The change of view from your windows is another bonus. Looking out your kitchen window at a mountain or pasture full of horses or cattle rather than at your neighbor's house can lend a feeling of privacy and serenity to your dishwashing experience. Furthermore, depending on the area you choose, all the benefits of beautiful sunsets, rides though the forest, or wide-open spaces can be yours.

In addition to beautiful views, there is the call of a slower life. Somehow, with nature on your doorstep, life just seems to slow to a more natural pace. With less time sitting in traffic, your focus can change to other things such as family, hobbies, or self. It takes longer to get to town, so you consolidate trips and end up driving to the store less, giving you a sense that you are home more frequently. Your stress level decreases as you learn to plan trips to town rather than running to the store every time you think of something you need.

Another benefit of country living is more personal space. Most country homes come with acreage. This gives you more independence from close neighbors and allows you to add a few animals to your household. Dogs and kids have more freedom to roam. You could even consider getting that horse you've always wanted or you could buy some chickens to provide you with farm-fresh eggs.

With all of the alluring benefits, it would seem that there are no drawbacks to consider; but don't be fooled that country living is the idyllic lifestyle. On the lighter side of the cons is the distance factor and all the challenges it brings. While fewer trips to the store may lead to more time at home, it usually means more time driving to get there.

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