jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nothing could be further from the truth. Most farming innovations have begun with farmers themselves, finding a better way to do things. Most big city folks don’t have a clue as to what a farmer really does or what work is involved.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

I think you have penned a very honest balance comment and I appreciate it very much.

Watash

Lambasted, no but I will give you 10 Bulls@#ts out of 10 for that comment!
You sound exactly like the people we are talking about.
I've seen horses and some wives pulling the plow but no oxen.
We've got a good tractor in the family but we don't use him for plowing. He can tractor a bar over 3 counties if need be to put meat on the table.

Wuligal Loc: Slippery Rock, Pa.

As for getting out of my backyard: I lived and worked in New York City for two years and spent two more traveling the country at someone else's expense. And that my friend is the very reason I live in the country.

I'm not sure I understand your "myth" comment. If you care to translate it in the terms of Quantum Physics or the writings of Deepak Chopra/Gary Zukav/Rollo May/Erich Fromm/Will Shakespeare I might get a better handle on it.

I agree, in all probability I can not change anyone's mind but I can set a positive example of how to think for yourself. I can impress on others that freedom has more to do with your mental acumen than your physical location. Perhaps the best guidance I ever gave was to my three sons. I insisted they question everything. I taught them to not be lead astray by fancy words and nice promises. I taught them to celebrate their ideas and opinions. I taught them to not be intimidated or suppressed by those who were more powerful than themselves. The mantra was THINK FOR YOURSELF. Question, probe, investigate and search for truth. In the end their value systems were their own, not one that was arbitrary imposed. They were their own person.....not a carbon copy of me!

No, I cannot change anyone's mind but I know from experience that I can certainly shape a few thoughts and ideas.

Grow up? I'm blessed, I did so well as an adult that I now have the time and means to enjoy some of my child like qualities....you know- A love of life. An insatiable curiosity about the universe. Knowing how to be playful and fun loving. Seeing the world as a place of hope and promise. Taking time to do nothing. Walking with my dog in the woods. (Woods that I own) Eating ice cream with my great grandchildren. Staying up all night with a good book. Meeting people on UHH, even the ones that are a pain in the neck. Like everyone that is fortunate enough to be young at heart, my list is endless.

I'm certain I lack your sophistication and worldly experience, none the less I have maintained my ability
to see and appreciate the common miracles that come my way everyday of my life - even the ones that hurt. Those miracles might happen in a rural setting but that doesn't make them any less worth while.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

To continue my tale about city folks.
About ten years after I moved 30 miles outside Stlouis, on a 25a "farm", people from the city started buying property on the road I lived on,The first thing they bitched about was the gravel road tearing up their car, now there was no posted speed limit on the road, but unposted roads had a limit of 40mph. These people were driving close to 60mph in front of my place.
Soon they had traffic counters on the road, you know the little boxes with a rubber hose across the road, after three months the county Judge (alderman) called a meeting, one of few I attended and said for the county to pave the road there needed to an average of 4000 cars a day and there were under 2000 cars a day.
At that time the neighbor doing all the complaining ask what about the road tearing up her car, The judge was at a loos for words, me being such a nice guy I helped him out, I told her it wasn't the roads fault she drove like an idiot.
Now the road finally got paved and guess who was bitching that she had to deed a 10ft easement to the county so they could pave the road. Go figure !!
I didn't have to give an easement since I had granted one so they could put electric to my father-in-laws place at the end of my property.

pbcbob Loc: Delray Beach, FL

Florida used to be a great place to live and then came air conditioning and Disney. City people will not be happy until it is paved from the Atlantic to the Gulf.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

It will probably be flooded before that happens

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

New "city slicker" next door asks "Where is the best place to get some good fried chicken? I miss KFC."

You hand them:
1. a live chicken
2. an axe and point to a stump to use for a chopping block
3. a cast iron skillet
4. a container of lard or bacon grease
5. a cook book titled "Real Country Cooking"

Then watch them melt down when they realize "chicken tenders" used to run around the barn yard eating corn and bugs.

You can do something similar when they ask about bacon, ham, steak, fish etc. And don't forget to give them a packet of seed corn, a hoe and that same cook book with a marker on the page for roasted "corn on the cob". But caution them they should eat something else from the store since it will take a while.

FrankR Loc: NYC

I’m a city guy. Outside of a few years in suburbia and time in the Marine Corps, I have always lived in NYC. I want my child to have a better life than I had. I want her to be healthy, happy, and successful. Note that I said successful, not, “A success.” I want to live my life doing things I enjoy, in places I enjoy, with people whose company I enjoy. And I want my privacy if that’s what I choose. Tell me how we’re different? What is it I want that you don’t? A lot of you speak in vague general terms about “City people” wanting to make changes, to, to make the new place more like where they left. Can you be specific? I’m a city guy, and have no intention of moving to the country, as I said. I might want a vacation home somewhere, but we’ll see. Presume for a moment I did however, that I moved down the road from you. If for example, I would like a museum, better schools, more money spent on first responders, maybe a Jazz club, a wider choice of restaurants. How is that bad for you? I can’t see how or why any of those would be; they would benefit everybody, not just me. So what is it you object to? What don’t you want, that you see as making your home town, “More like where they came from?”

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

To answer your questions would take this into attic territory and cause being banned in this area. In the old days I'd have just answered. I'm watching more closely what area I'm in and not responding appropriately automatically anymore.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

domcomm Loc: Denver, CO

There's even a TV show in the U.K. called "Escape to the Country" where they try to help people find a suitable property. It can be seen here in the U.S. on the Dabl channel.

Wuligal Loc: Slippery Rock, Pa.

It has nothing to do with life style. It's all about politics.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Say what! Who says folks in the country don’t have good schools? Good fire and police? Restaurants and museums within reasonable driving distance? Apparently you think we are a bunch of uncouth, ignorant hicks. Wake up!

FrankR Loc: NYC

Where did I say you don’t? Saying you want to spend more money on something implies that “something” is there already. Of course I know that you have most, if not all, of what I mentioned. Apparently you think we’re uncouth, ignorant city slickers who have no idea of anything outside of where we live. Wake up!