if it is worth to drill a well for water on a lot that hasn't any access to any public water and won't get it in the foreseeable future. Water catchment structures are also not that easy to build and maintain.

And I wonder how one can judge the possibiity the land will be "taken" through eminent domain requests from government or corporations and how to protect against it.

livestock operation

Don't forget, zoning can be changed on a whim by the County (in the U.S.). We are on an acreage in a rural area zoned for agriculture and residential. Now some people are petitioning the county planning commission to put a noisy "party" business right next to our 20-home development. Noise, traffic, fireworks, alcohol, this is not what we signed up for. They've been doing it without a permit for a while, so we know it's bad. We had to get all activist and testify to the county about our concerns. It was tabled last fall, now coming up again. We will have to spend time and money (for a lawyer) but probably we will lose. There are no enforceable ordinances out in the county. We found that out when somebody started a motorcycle "club" on his place, county said they could do nothing. Fortunately he went out of business (which was supposedly not a business to stay legal).

It is kind of a nightmare. Just be aware, anything can change. Just because it looks idyllic now, doesn't guarantee it will be that way in 10 years.

Both for acreage (=space away) and "at the end of a dead-end road". Husband and I had no interest in farming. We were into woodland, scored twice. First in Wisconsin, outside of Madison where we were both employed. The property was about 3 acres, end-ish of road in a wannabe small-holdings road. Empty at the last two lots. Woodland, uphill from a field for heifers from the dairy farm across the highway (Canadian sense of county road). Top of hill, but minimal views. And a house, pre-built, assembled on-site by previous owners, and decnt ranch house, but cringe-worthy to architect-husband, even with cathedral ceilings. 19 miles away from Madison, not too nice on -20F mornings. 1980's recession, both jobs lost, moving time. We had "improved" the property, fenced an area for dogs, hub was taught fence-stretching by a farmer's son, hog fencing. Somehow we managed to walk with $15K profit. Used later.

Back to Ithaca, he was re-hired by his old firm, I found an academic job with kinda security. We wanted more than 3 acres, but near Ithaca for job and cultural reasons. Over 6 months with topo maps, a soil survey book of the county and $15K. We looked at existing houses (architect disapproval, me too) and then ventured into undeveloped property. Having an architect in the family was useful, in that he had an Idea. He wanted Passive solar, Superinsulated, of his design. we targeted hillsides facing SW, and then individual tax map properties, some of which were not for sale. We found some, making the chase more targeted. Hub realized turnover potential (if you wanted to go elsewhere) and it got down to school districts for us who had no kids. But it made a difference to be within the Ithaca City School District as opposed to outlying rural districts. We finally found this "difficult" lot that a wannabe developer had carved out, 21.5 acres or so with a 75 foot road frontage. He dreamed of a 10-lot, 2 acre development but it was a hillside, Marcellus shale very close to surface and his dream development failed perc tests.

The property seemed like a dream, 5 miles from Ithaca, school district yes, still rural gravel road, few neighbors, SW hill shoulder, valley views. Developer had had the woodland logged for prime trees, there was a dug (bulldozer) road though the property, but not from the 75' road access. Asking price: $24K, there may have been some negotiation, but with additional funds plus $15K we got it.

So a construction loan for a 2BR house, new well, new septic (Marcellus shale less than 2' down, mound filter), power and phone plowed under the drive that we cut out of the woods, meandering because we didn't want a straight-shot drive. 900' of meander, over 20 16-wheel dump trucks of rip-rap then coarse gravel then fine (all Marcellus shale, I am chuckling).

We traded a second bathroom for a solar DHW system on the roof. This was 1981, how avant-garde. Electric everything except wood heat as a supplement. With age that got tiresome.

Two kids, double house size. And then they grew and flew and my husband died. So here I am in a 4 bedroom house on woodland that I love and want to protect and adapt to warmer weather. With no funds to help. I am still trying to get the property into Conservancy, it is considered a water recharge area. I have trouble even growing tomatoes with the shade. ;(

A couple of other considerations that come to mind for me -- possibly not as pertinent in Canada, but I'd be looking for reasonable access to good quality medical care, dental care, and emergency services. How far away to a hospital? And I'd look at the area's politics, the local culture, things to do, people and social connections, the "community" to be found in a certain area. I love the idea of peace and quiet, solitude to a degree, but I also feel that too much distance can lead to isolation and lack of a supportive network. If that makes sense.

These are some of my own concerns when we think of moving out into the country, appealing as it sounds in so many ways. Thanks for an interesting read.

in the country...I will bloom where I am planted...

I rent, and always have because I moved around a lot. But I have always left the place I rent better than when I found it. Where I am now is a nice, upper class neighborhood with older homes on a very quite side street. A mix of university students and retired people. We older people have built a nice community amongst ourselves and look out for one another.

I have access to existing gardens, and hope this summer to build some raised beds (animal proof I hope. We have racoons you could saddle and ride.) for a few veggies. Something I could expand if needed. I have LOTS of room inside my apartment. I can store a lot of "stuff" if needed.

I am also very good at improvising.

might do a web search for registered dems/independents in the county of your choice. look at board of supervisors/county officers/judges - along with recent decisions in support of positive legislation, police-community relations or horror stories.
look for leftish/organic support organizations. shop at local stores, read the flyers & bulletin boards. investigate what services (public transportation, ag help, fire department) the county provides or doesn't.
in any area the surrounding community will support & help you or destroy your plans. remember--in a small rural area it will be a couple years before you become one-of-us.

In a residential area at the end of a cul de sac, there is another street parallel to his, but between the houses is a stream, and wetland, so no building there, it is woods, on the other 2 sides is state forest property... It's like having a yuuuge property, without having to pay property taxes on it...