A rural lifestyle is a rich lifestyle

Over four years ago, my husband was faced with a choice between two different job offers. One offer was in a big city in Kansas, and the other offer was here in Holyoke. Within weeks of each other, we flew out to see both places.

The first city we visited was filled with traffic, tons of shopping, restaurants, a fast-paced lifestyle, lots of people, schools, amenities and more. It looked and felt like where we were already living at the time, and I wanted a change. I searched my heart, and I just didn’t feel it for my kids or myself. I made sure to let my husband know how I felt, and luckily he understood.

A better picture of how I envisioned our life together watching our young children grow up took residence in my mind. I had an idea, and I’d know it when I saw it.

For the second job option, we drove 2.5 hours from the Denver airport to the plains of Colorado. The wide-open spaces, farmland, a slower pace of life, livestock, small businesses, schools within walking distance of homes, community spirit, well-kept lawns and downtown charm instantly captivated us.

This is it, I thought. This is where we need to be. This is where we need to breathe.

There was no Target, Starbucks or Chick-fil-A. There was only one fast food joint — Subway. The closest Walmart was an hour away. And most of your specialized doctor or dentist appointments required traveling. But when I found Amazon Prime delivered, that pretty much sealed the deal.

After checking out the area and his potential job, we accepted the offer and moved across the country to build our new life here.

Today, I’m so thankful we took the risk of not knowing a soul. I appreciate how everyone knows everyone. People know our kids so if they’re misbehaving, you better believe mama’s friends are watching.

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