It's really a hard call sometimes. We always lived in city, and the noise and constant hustle and lack of green spaces drove us nuts. We also feel the lure of open land, and I wouldn't want to trade the cycling opportunities that I have out here in the middle of nowhere for anything.

However, income out here is hard for me - I was all computer-related work when we moved so I worked from home. However, that business has died (partly because I've been burned out for years and it was affecting my work). Now, any job would have me driving more than an hour each way. So... as it is, my income is rather paltry as I just have little side jobs and am working on a new career. Not the best of all worlds!

Ideally? A little piece of land maybe 30 minutes from a city would be great. Chattanooga still offers that, so that's where we plan to go.

Sometimes you don't realize all the pitfalls until you live in the boonies.