You Know You Moved to the Country When…

I missed ya’ll last week, but the sea of moving boxes got the best of me!  However, it’s been a great week of reflection as we settle in to our very.tiny.space, mix and mingle with new peeps and explore the area.  Here are the top 16 things I’ve learned about country life in just 1 week.  Why 16?  Well…”Top 10” is so “trendy” so I decided to be different.  Ok, not really… I just had 16 things that came to mind.

You know you moved to the country when…

{1} The shopping mall and grocery store parking lots full of minivans have been replaced with hardware store parking lots and the town square full of Ford F150’s. They.are.everywhere! You quickly imagine what it would be like to have one (so you can fit in with the locals of course) and find yourself perusing websites looking for an old one to fix up (because they are so cute and surely I could learn how to restore a truck)

{2} Sure, you can go to the hardware store to get some tools, nuts & bolts and some gardening supplies but while you are standing at the register, instead of being tempted by a rack of junk food, you can just go ahead and buy your EGGS while you are there. Yes folks, eggs at the hardware store check-out.

{3} While you are out and about running errands, instead of the sound of traffic and the chitter chatter of people, you are pretty much guaranteed to hear a ROOSTER crow or a COW moo while loading your car and if you take a deep breath I am sure you can guess what the aroma in the air often is… yep… manure…and secretly you sort of find the distant smell comforting.

{4} When giving directions to your home you use landmarks such as; “if you got to the home with the BUS parked in the front yard then you’ve gone 4 houses too far”. All you suburban folks…this is not something to cringe over up here…it’s just normal!  Above ground pools, cars that work, cars that don’t work, trampolines, appliances, etc… it’s all fare game in country front yards!

{5} When you realize that your Pinterest board has more and more pins about how to build solid GOAT FENCING or blue prints for the cutest stinkin’ chicken coop ever!

{6} You’ve learned two new things about WALMART. First, they play country music. Secondly and most interesting is that in the kitchen area there is an entire section of accessories (think can openers, spatula’s, plates, etc.) that are a pink camouflage theme!  Go figure. Never really considered decking out my new kitchen in camo…. Food for thought.

{7} There are more PAWN SHOPS than dry cleaners.

{8} You have to stand outside with your phone facing a certain direction to get a picture to send via text. #BADCELLCOVERAGE #badwifi

{9} RUSH HOUR  in town looks like this.  A bad day consists of an 8-10 car backup.  

{10} You catch yourself saying “YA’LL”… a lot! I lived in Atlanta for 25 years without picking up a southern accent.  Wonder what the rural country life will do to that streak?

{11} Back home if you wanted to know something, everything had a FB page or a website…you didn’t really have to speak to anyone. Up here in the country…you pick up the phone, call and have a CHAT WITH A HUMAN.  Nice personal touch, eh? Also to note:  The person you speak to will call you “Darlin” or “Sugar”.

{12} We are told a 6-PACK of beer will get you anything you want around here. I mean, I don’t really drink but a glass of wine a few times a year although certainly good to keep in mind should a need arise! #bartering

{13} You look out back and there is a cute little GROUNDHOG sitting by your creek…he waves to you and goes about his business. Ok, he didn’t wave but I swear he looked up at me and winked and said “Welcome to the neighborhood” before his furry little booty scurried along.

{14} When you hear GUN SHOTS you don’t freak out and send out a post that goes viral on your subdivisions email alert system!

{15} BABY GOATS. Hubby and I got to hold them.  I cannot get enough of these little love bugs! Yes, we even joined a local FB page about buying, selling & raising goats in our area.  #ilovebabygoats {remember my post about the got I got?}

{16} A 15-minute stroll from home and you have this piece of GOD’S CREATION staring back at you. #waterfall

I think we’re going to like it here!