GOING TO THE COUNTRY?
WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE MAKING A BOLD MOVE AWAY FROM THE BIG CITY
SOME OF MY ACQUAINTANCES HAVE DECIDED TO QUIT THEIR JOBS AND LEAVE BANGKOK TO TAKE UP FARMING
After living for long enough in the big city, one can fall in love easily with the fresh air, serenity of surroundings and simple but rich culture of people in the countryside. Some can feel tempted to live the rest of their lives away from Bangkok.
While in the countryside, one cannot help thinking of the chaos and hectic life in the city — chronic traffic jams, frequent floods, high living costs, and sometimes annoying neighbours. Furthermore, the whole city has been covered with the hazardous PM2.5 dust pollution in recent months. To be able to avoid these problems completely seems like a good idea.
I would say this is happening to many Bangkokians, as I heard some of my acquaintances have decided to quit their jobs and leave Bangkok to take up farming, while others are planning to pursue their dreams after retirement.
The following are some things you should consider before moving to live in the provinces.
Firstly, you have to understand the rural lifestyle well. For those who have backgrounds there, living in the countryside is no big deal.
Secondly, you need to have a clear plan about what you will do for a living when you actually get there. People with cooking skills who want to sell food must know the types of food the locals prefer. Are cooking ingredients available? Is the price of your food affordable for the local consumers?
It is necessary for those who want to do gardening to work out what types of orchards they want to have. Will it be mono
crop or mixed crops? What is the market trend and pricing? Have you got enough funds for soil improvement, fertiliser, pesticide, harvesting and transport costs? Is it worth the investment, time and energy?
Having sufficient funds is critical in growing mixed crops, as it takes a long time before you can harvest.
Thirdly, can you really sacrifice the comfort and convenience of the city and learn to fit yourself in to a less familiar way of life in the countryside?
Also important is land price and surroundings. You can Google to compare prices and locations on a property-for-sale website.
The property should be in proximity to community centres so that you will have easy access to public services, tap water, electricity, government offices, schools and hospitals. Connection to the internet and Wi-Fi is vital to keep you abreast of news and current affairs.
It is suggested you inspect the land in summer since the surroundings will reveal their true condition. You will learn about the summer heat and water resources, which are vital to farming. In some cases, the place may be close to public irrigation systems, but water is scarce in the dry season. Digging a pond to retain water can be unsuccessful. Some places can be lush green in summer but flooded in rainy seasons.
You must be mindful about all of these aspects and take time to consider them carefully. Sometimes it is worthwhile to experiment by staying over at the places for a period of time to test yourself before making a final decision.
Renting a simple house to stay in for a short period will enable you to observe the way of life of the local people, social values, tradition, culture and religious practices. Gaining firsthand experience about food-and-ingredients availability may help you make a better decision.
The tips above are only some of the many factors you need to think seriously about before deciding to move to the countryside. If you make a wrong decision, it will be heartbreaking in the long term.
Bangkok may be troubled with countless problems, but it is not all bad. The city is full of conveniences and opportunities that people from the outside are dying for.