There are many reasons we like living out here in the country (and an equally long list of reasons why we don’t which I’ll explore next week). Here are the first thirteen that come to mind:

1. Beautiful unobstructed views of the sunrise & sunset.
2. Plenty of time to get the house in shape before company arrives since NO ONE comes clear out here unannounced.
3. Miles of ditch bank to walk in search of wild asparagus to pick for dinner.
4. Our dog doesn’t have to be confined to a fenced-in yard or be tied up to a chain.
5. Kids learn to drive at an earlier age. (kids asked me to list this)
6. There isn’t a house right next to us – our nearest neighbors are 1/2 mile away.
7. We don’t have to worry about noise levels – the kids can play LOUDLY outside, we can turn up the music while shooting hoops, and no one cares if we’re outdoors late into the night or very early in the morning.
8. Country sounds – the train in the distance, tractors working in the fields, wind blowing, animal noises, and sometimes NO noise at all.
9. Sending the little ones into the locally owned grocery store without any $$ because we have an in-store charge account.
10. The postmaster calls when “more” books have arrived to make sure we are home before they deliver them so they don’t sit outside all day.
11. Shooting off fireworks legally.
12. Having a bonfire in our back yard.
13. The nice long drive home from town (LOL).