Why does no one speak of the cultural advantages of the country? For example, is a well groomed, ecologically kept, sustainably fertile farm any less cultural, any less artful, than paintings of fat angels on church ceilings?-Gene Logsdon
In the spirit of celebrating our differences, here is a short list of things our friends in the urban areas may not understand:
Relief when you realize the blood is from a human and not an animal
Having no idea where your bruises came from
“Going to town” takes time and planning
“Clean” is relative and whatever I was doing to get this dirty is more important than your opinions
Most of the time, ingesting an insect is not worthy of comment
“Did it getcha?” and “How many of them got you?” are inquiries after your health and, usually, attempts to find out if the work is going to continue or needs to be interrupted
Neighbors can live several miles away
The coop gets locked up at night, not the house
You can spend as long as you want stopped on the road talking to someone as long as you get out of the way when someone drives up and needs to get around you
We notice strangers on our roads
We holler or yell across the farm. We do not walk across 20 acres every time we need to communicate
Everyone can pee outside
Dogs out here have jobs
Kids out here have jobs
We are, very literally, our neighbors’ keepers
Well water tastes better (unless it is full of sulfur)
Weekends are for work, too
Like people, insects, snakes, and wild animals can be good or bad
Kicking tires is a social activity, usually engaged in by men in denim and has nothing to do with kicking tires
Outside is just another part of our living space
If I can get there without driving on a paved road, it is in my neighborhood
Hats are utilitarian, not a fashion statement
Trucks look funny clean
Love from the farm
Happy eating,
Katy
Katy Had a Little Farm 
A truck that stays clean all of the time is a toy.
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Manure happens regularly on a farm and enriches everything. A dog barking is a security alarm, not an irritant.. Stars shine brightest in the night sky, not on TV. A bonfire makes neighbors, friends. If you listen, trees will whisper peace.
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OK. I grew up in a big city and now live in a semi rural area.
Yes… The stars are brighter… People here do less shouting and will actively shush you when you are shouty. Road markings are only guides…. Not rules.
We also have a HUGE rural theft problem. Farms in this country are regularly targeted by burglars, thieves and general nuisance people.
http://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/home-and-personal-property/rural-crime
Ok… It’s Scottish, but its the same here too
Basically your rural is not our rural. I wish ours was more like yours. *sigh*
But I get you on being clean (It’s a myth), random bruisings… Also random cuts, I stop wondering where I get them. I think I must be a magnet or something. Seriously, I have a 2 inch cut just above my ankle… Damned if I know where I got it. >.>
Sometimes I wonder if I should dress in red to save others panicking all the time.
And is ‘Kicking tyres’ when blokes stand around a vehicle talking, drinking and catching up/spending time with friends?
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The crime makes me sad. This country is huge so I’m sure we have areas like that as well. In fact, when we lived in Northern Virginia things were very different. Yes, that’s exactly what kicking tires means:) I knew this would be a very US specific post so take my less international observations with a grain of salt. I love that I have primary audiences is on 3 continents but I can’t always speak to such a broad range of experience. Thanks for the expounding comments! I love learning through them!
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Yeah. We have a huge rural crime problem. One that is very difficult to keep up with. B-(
Hey, I love learning about what its like in different places. Its also nice to see that some of the things we used to see on TV are actually true! B-)
We have ‘kicking tyres’ over here too. Guys will pop the bonnet of their cars and get their friends over simply to spend time and have a drink. Rarely does any work on the car actually happen. Its an excuse to get the guys over. B-)
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Love this. All of it. Most of it applies to our little spot here in Ireland too. Although I know other spots do have a crime problem.
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