Tidbits of country life...

When I first moved to the country, I was so mesmerized by being married that I didn't really absorb what it meant to live where we do. It took me a while, but now certain things really pop into my head when I think about country living... here are a few...

• We live far from everything. It takes 15 minutes just to get to the nearest grocery store, which is a drastic change from the 15 minutes it took me to get to downtown Seattle growing up. Now, "going to town" is a several hour ordeal and going to Costco... well, that's all day.
• When giving directions to our house, we say, "If you think you've gone too far, you probably haven't."
• Hearing gunshots in the middle of the day doesn't cause alarm... unless you consider that they may be shooting at a cougar or a bear...
• Speaking of... living in the country means that you may just be visited BY a cougar or a bear in your backyard. And when you report it to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, they basically tell you 'that's what you get for living where you do'.
• And on the subject of wildlife, living in the country means that your home may also be home to; elk, deer, coyotes, owls, geese, hundreds of birds, and tadpoles... all of which have graced our front and backyard.
• Country living means that we cannot see any other houses from our house.
• It means that hearing pure silence is possible.
• It means that I can stay put at my home for days on end without leaving (but that is also a gift of being a SAHM).
• Did I mention that it means we are FAR from everything??

and lastly for now, in this, the first installment of country tidbits...

• living in the country means that moments like this are possible, while out on our evening walk, without worrying that the authorities will be called...

How's that for country livin'?