Drifting, nowhere to land
Thought this was home
but turns out it's just a place
Where I keep all the stuff
I don't need and need none
of the stuff I have access to
Helluva quandry ain't it
Welcome to my world. But just when you're about to give up, out comes yet another Top... Ten... list. If you're rootless, restless, or simply feeling rustic these days, Progressive Farmer says these are the ten best places to consider if, like me, you're ready to get rural:
1. Fauquier County, Virginia
"Rural, proud of it and trying to stay that way" could be the unofficial motto of this county lying 45 minutes west of Washington, D.C.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Oconee County, Georgia
A transitional county that retains its rural flavor, Oconee has been discovered as a great place to live by people just across the river at Athens, home of the University of Georgia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. McPherson County, Kansas
First things first—pronounce it correctly. It's mac-FUR-son, and any resident will tell you: "There's no FEAR in McPherson."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Callaway County, Missouri
Located almost in the middle of the U.S., Callaway County is a special place, as any Callawegian (that's what a native calls himself) will tell you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Grafton County, New Hampshire
Though geographically large (it's twice the size, for instance, of Callaway County, Mo.), Grafton County is dominated by the White Mountain National Forest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Gillespie County, Texas
Scenic granite hills to the north and fertile pastures to the south, all dotted with oak and cedar, give nearly anyone with a rural bent something to love.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Sauk County, Wisconsin
A surprise waits around every bend in the road and over every crest of the hill in this lovely county.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Wilson County, Tennessee
The eastern neighbor of sprawling Davidson County (Nashville), Wilson County retains much of its good farmland but with subdivisions and small farms playing a more prominent role now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Eagle County, Colorado
Rocky Mountain peaks, ski resorts including Vail and secluded scenic valleys have made Eagle more of a playground for the rich and famous than an ag stronghold.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Rankin County, Mississippi
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments
1 - JR
Fauquier County, Virginia - "Rural, proud of it and trying to stay that way"
Fat chance. Especially after this article.
"Call someplace Paradise, you can kiss it goodbye."
2 - Eric Olsen
we're at the edge of the farthest suburbs of both Cleveland and Akron, where they intersect in fact, in an area that used to be farm/rural but is now faux-rustic, gentrified suburbia. It's a very nice combination, I have to admit (except for the weather).
3 - Mark Saleski
c'mon e, didn't you enjoy yesterday's transition from the 40's down to the single digits with wind brutality & all?
exhilarating!
and for the record, i live out in the middle of nowhere and love every minute of it.
4 - JR
Are you kidding? We hit 70 on Monday; by yesterday afternoon I saw freaking hoarfrost on the streetsigns. The last time I saw that shit I was on Mt. Washington. I really need to bring my camera on the bus with me.
Yeah, it rocked.
5 - Mark Saleski
i wish i'd had my wits about me this morning...shoulda grabbed my camera as well.
right in front of our house is this old grange hall (currently being renovated).
the winds were so fierce last night that one pane of glass from the hall blew out of the building, flew across our driveway and imbedded itself into the snowbank. there were all of these cool mini-snowdrifts around it.
(good thing i didn't back over it)
6 - Eric Olsen
piker: we went from 55 to 15 in 6 hours
7 - mpho
What can I say? San Francisco ain't called Fog City for nuthin', though the past few days have been nothing to complain about. Me thinks minature golf and go-carting are the way to go this weekend. As for my fear of rural America, well has a lot to do with growing up in Michigan. True story: drove up north once with college buddies, stopped to pick up enough beers for the weekend, and drew the attention of everyone hanging out--not shopping but hanging out--at some anonymous small town store. As the clerk rang up the items, the whole lot of 'em started chanting "part-ee, part-ee, part-ee, part-ee" faster and faster until it was just a frenzy of people screaming and hollering party while we crammed it all into the car and drove off as fast as we could. at the time it seemed like a scene from some off-kilter teen horror flick. but we survived. met some might nice folks up there on Walloon Lake, one of Hemmingway's haunts....