Would you rather live three miles (8 minutes) away from work in a residential subdivision or 18 miles (21 minutes) from work on 10 acres. The houses are virtually the same in terms of floor space. The main differences are the size of the lots and proximity to work. Both are in city limits and the same school districts. The job allows for some telecommuting so going to work in bad weather is less of a factor. Both routes are subject to rush hour traffic. The house in the country would be $20k less. Only one vehicle is required in either scenario.

Funny, I just moved out of town (about 12 miles from work, I think), but I'm only on about an acre and a quarter.

Let's see...

Cheaper house?
More privacy?
More elbow room?

Gee, you're not making this one tough at all.

Then again...

How far does the house on acreage put you from stuff like supermarkets, gas stations, etc, or natural resources like water?

What sort of emergencies/disasters do you expect in your area? Would living out of town potentially put you at a greater risk due to these issues?

Still, I think you know which I would choose/have chosen.

Country Home. City can be chaotic trying to escape when SHTF.

Mark

Country home, hands-down.

Country Home, no doubt, no question...

Jamie

country home = 2 hour drive to work

been there done that got the t-shirt

Country home...

We were living in the city, average drive time to\from work: 45 minutes

Moved to the country (3 acres, complete privacy) average drive time to\from work: 45 minutes

Honestly, don't worry about how far from the local wally world, etc... Being further away simply MANDATES better planning and such... We're about 35-40 minutes from significant shopping opportunities... Now, I make damn sure I have extra stuff on hand before starting a project (I'm not 5 minutes from Home Depot any more)... Being further out will be better for your preps because it'll make you cognizant of what you need\use, and you're also more likely to 'store what you eat\use'

Ice

Meh, I'm only 21, I like living in the city for all the great local restaurants and the nightlife. Not to mention most of my friends life within walking distance or at most a 2 minute drive. I can ride my bike to school and run all my errands on it too.

Country. No question.

I lived in a major gity for my first 30 years, and by the end of it, I absolutely hated it.

Now I live out in the sticks on 2 1/2 acres, have just a few nice neighbors (none within 1/4 mile; in the city, I could almost reach out a window and knock on the neighbors... ) and have all the peace, solitude, and busy work I want.

Plus, I can shoot my guns in the front or backyard....

10 acres....man that would be nice. Well I guess you know my vote.

Country all the way.

...of course I live in town and drive 70 miles into the boonies to work. I guess that's what I get for being out of the country when my wife was house hunting.

10 acres?? why would I want to downsize....................

Country and yeah, I want more than 10 acres so I can set up a decent range for my weapons.

my preference is the country setting for several reasons already listed

BUT...........

if unfriendly drifters, gangs, zeds, happen to stumble upon my nice cozy country home it's them against me. maybe i win, for now, but there will always be others traveling to and from the city searching for supplies, people, or whatever the reason. for a single person, this is why country living isn't the safest. as much as i beginning to dislike big cities, there is safety in numbers. remember thieves, scavangers, and zeds are looking for easy targets, and there are plenty sheeples in cities.

i like the ideal of multiple acres, but i am the power of one.

Thanks for everyone's thoughtful feedback!

Mr. Warren Peace hits on something that I've read from Ferfal and Nutnfancy too, that you are better off tactically having somewhat close neighbors that will notice if something is going on. For example, neighbors are going to call 911 when they see zeds kicking in your front door.

Also, in the WROL context you need neighbors to take turns in watch, street checkpoints, and patrols. This is something we saw after Hurricane Katrinta. It seems like the main advantage to rural living is lots of land for food production. If you have the right soil conditions in your backyard, maybe you can produce enough for your family.

Right now I'm in a brick home in the city. Just thinking about moving further out over the long term.

I love living in the city .

I used to dream about getting a hobby farm and moving back out to the boonies which is where I grew up , but I have really began to question that notion .

I really loved the convenience , culture and resources a city has to offer . I do not feel That I am under any greater threat than I would be in the country , and I am still able to prep - I just have to do it in a slightly different way .

I think the hippy and survivalist doctrine of "get out of the city" from the 1970s needs to be re-thought .

Country would be my vote. I live in a little subdivsion right now. That is what I get for listening to my wife when we were looking for this home. I passed on several country houses that she didn't like at the time. Now she wants to live in the country. Not only are some of the reasons listed good ones. But it is also nice to go out and have a bonfire at nights or be able to actually look up at the stars and see them. I grew up in the country on 40+ acres which backed up to Timber property. There were 6 houses within a mile. Nice thing was whenever a different car drove down the road you would see the neighbors watching it.

Holy shit where do you guys live? I am 40 minutes from the city on a good day and only 25 miles out. If I don't leave with the rooster it is a 98 minute drive into the city. Want to live intown but property taxes dictate otherwise.

Two words:

Population Density

Ive lived in the hills most of my life. I moved to Fresno when I was 19. I went back home in six months.

18 miles is a reasonable distance to bike to work a few days a week. It would help keep you in shape. Bonus, in the future you could subdivide the 10 acres sell them off and fund a more isolated retreat.