Beginning life anew in a country setting is a
dream that many city dwellers, and even suburbanites, hold close to their
hearts. However, the move from city to country is not for everyone, as is
illustrated in Lawrence Scanlan’s informative and realistic portrayal of
such a move in “Heading Home: On Starting Life in a Country Place”.
Many have successfully “bugged out” of the city, with romantic dreams of
country quilts hanging on a clothesline above a self sufficient plot of
vegetables, in a surreal green setting offering fresh, country air and
sheep grazing in the pasture. And though many of the country visions held
by those willing to give up their city conveniences and even their 9-5
employment are found to actually exist in rural Canada, it is not without
sacrifice and many hard won trade-offs. Lawrence Scanlan’s beautifully
written book is a testimony to the ups AND the downs of choosing such a
life and to sticking it out to make it work.
This non-fictional work is chronicled through a twelve month diary period,
offering inspiration, insight, and advice from the vantage point of each
month’s seasonal challenges and changes of life in the country. Mr.
Scanlon offers compelling descriptions of the sometimes challenging
events, that only become such when a person lives an hour from the nearest
plumber or pharmacy. The love he possesses for the country life is quite
evident, and even though his realism and practicality shine through his
overall enjoyment of country life, he definitely resides whole-heartedly
in the country mindset. If ever you have wanted to “make the move”, and
turn in your postage stamp lot for a couple of acres, you will find much
needed advice and inspiration in this unique story.
In his prologue, Lawrence Scanlon writes,
“At the heart of the book is the notion that for many of us, place now
matters a great deal. The book poses the question, Why not a small place,
a country place? Canadians have long huddled in cities along the southern
border, as if for warmth. We are a land blessed with land, so why do we
insist on crowding the urban edge?”
This thought provoking paragraph introduces the reader to a worthy
opinion, widely held by many brave 21st century pioneers, who have given
up the urban conveniences, close access to cultural events and malls, to
find a larger view of our Canada, and perhaps of ourselves. The quiet of
the country coupled with the more slowly paced lifestyle is conducive to
introspection and soul searching, something Mr. Scanlon has experienced in
his depiction of his family’s new life in the country.
As a former suburbanite ‘gone country’, I highly recommend this as a
must-read for anyone posing the question of a move to the country.
“Country” starts in the heart and mind, before one ever finds themselves
on the end of a rake and shovel. This book will certainly help you to
decide whether the“country” is for you or not.
**“Heading Home”, by Lawrence Scanlon, is published by Doubleday Books and
is available through most retail book sellers.
