If you’ve spent most of your life living next to (or on) farms, then you know that living in the country has its perks and inevitably its downfalls.

You’ve probably spent one too many afternoons stuck behind that tractor that cant drive faster than 15 mph. Of course, it’s always on a day that you’re late to work or school. It’s a normal sight, as well as driving by the numerous trucks filled to the brim with hay bails.

You understand that most visitors only come to your town to visit the local farm-city dwellers who think pumpkin picking and hand feeding baby sheep is the coolest thing ever. But, that’s our everyday life- we don’t look twice while passing cornfields barns.

Beer is water. The local town bar is always full of the same people, every night. There are no outsiders. It’s a close-knit community and everybody knows everybody. They’ve all gone to school together since kindergarten.

Flannels and work boots are regular apparel. Men walking into the convenience store covered in mud and dirt is not questioned, and is expected- there are no judgments.

Dirt bikes, quads and diesel trucks are your background music. You enjoy watching a group of boys zipping through open fields on a sunny summer day.

You’d rather buy your fruit and veggies from the local produce stand than from the supermarket.

Afternoons spent exploring the woods and jumping into rivers and lakes are a normal day.

Dodging deer while driving are regular hazards.

Horse Crossing signs are more common than stop signs.

If you’re not driving at least fifteen mph over the speed limit on the back roads, prepare for road rage.

Watching the sunset at your favorite overlook in town never gets old.

You’re not afraid to get dirty. You know what it’s like to bail hay, to muck a stall, to fill water buckets and lug them to various pastures. You understand what hard labor really is.

You’ve spent countless days sitting in a barn playing with horses, or sitting on a fence watching the animals graze and run around. You may have even bottle-fed a baby lamb or calf.

The nicer things in life, like makeup and name brand clothes, throw you off sometimes- you’re not used to slipping out of your jeans and t-shirt. Getting dressed up is a fun change, but you certainly don’t slap on makeup or dress shoes daily.

The country is home and there’s no place like it. Where else can you inhale so deeply that you can almost taste the newly blossomed flowers and crisp air? It’s a different lifestyle, but it’s our lifestyle.