thanks for all the answers. they confirm what i thought too. hadn't thought of tescos delivering
.......
Having done both I will tell you my views..
Country living can be great in theory,but really it has its drawbacks and i honestly believe that a lot of people who make that jump are not prepared to say how difficult it can be,of course this can also apply to city living.
Country ;having to drive kids everywhere may seem like no problem,but have you thought,
that petrol/diesel is very expensive,
Roads are dangerous,most accidents happen outside main citys.
You may have to drop off one kid but that may mean taking 1/2/3 other kids with you.And that can be a real pain for the kids and you.
It may not be worth your while to drive home as the time it takes means you would just be home and have to go back out,pack kids in car again.
The alternative is the other kids are bored while you wait.
The baby may need to be fed or wont settle or needs a nappy change,one of the other kids may be ill or not want to go out again.
When you have teens they want to go into town and again you are the driver ,teens get bored ,if they want to go to the cinema you are out late collecting them,maybe ok in the summer but in the fog /cold icy roads this is a nightmasre.there are no shops to walk too,and that may be fine but in the middle of winter when you have to pack all the kids into the car its not so amusing.
You may not get on with your neighbours and this is more pronounced if you only have one.
YOu will find it hard to go for a walk,there are no footpaths,there is little if any street lighting.
Letting the kids roam the fields was grand years ago,but now there are so many dangers that its not to be recommened.either way its likly they would have to go on a dangerous road to get to the fields and the owner of the fields may not be too happy to have them on their land,plus they usually have large dogs.
When the kids get older and go to college ,you wil have to pay for their accomadation.
Also the chances of employment are greatly reduced as opposed to the city.
If you or your partnerkids got ill,traveling to get to hospitals can be very trying.
The pool of people you and your kids can choose to befriend can be very limited and if the kids fall out with each other,then the parents can and usually do fall out,and thats difficult when living in a smaller community.
Im back in Dublin and heres my two pence worth.
The gardens are tiny and it seems so concrete as opposed to the open countryside.
That being said,the kids now have loads of other kids to play with,the teens get the luas into dundrum or town.Its 5 mins to the cimema and a hop skip and jump to the shop.
I have loads of neighbours who help out and vice versa if needed.
They can walk home from school,and have friends over and they go to their friends and can walk there too.
When they go to college i will not have to pay for accomodation.
Hospitals are near and if they/we get ill we dont have the added disadvanage of having to travel for hours.
There is every ameinity within spitting distance.
My sis in law is living in the county with her four kids and hubby and is cracking up trying to amuse the kids ,while mine are out on the green with their friends.
Obviously there are great advantages and disadvantages to both but that was just my experience..
Best of luck with whatever decision you come to..