I Lived the Country Life Well Before I Moved to the Country—Here’s How

There’s a common misconception that “living the country life” means physically living in the countryside. That unless you’re waking up to rolling hills, tending to livestock, or driving a dusty ute down a dirt road, you haven’t truly embraced country living.

But I disagree. I lived the country life long before I ever set foot on rural land.

How? Because country living isn’t about where you are—it’s about how you live.

The Myth of the Postcode Lifestyle

For years, country life has been sold as an all-or-nothing choice. You’re either deep in the city, grinding away in an office with no connection to nature, or you’ve “escaped” to a remote property where you grow your own food and embrace total self-sufficiency.

The reality is that this all or nothing approach isn't viable for many. The cost of moving to a country town, the additional travel time, the proximity to social and family connections, the major shift from urban conveniences, and the physical demands of a working property or maintaining even a small acreage ... these all factor into whether moving to the country is not only possible, but sustainable in the long-term. 

But life doesn’t have to be that black and white. There’s a sweet spot in between—one where you can live by country values without sacrificing modern comforts.

The Real Meaning of ‘Living Country’

Long before I made the move to a more rural lifestyle, I was already living by the values that define country living:

✔ Authenticity – Choosing quality over quantity, seeking craftsmanship, and valuing things built to last.

From a young age, I used to look at leather duffle bags and wish I could afford one as a gym bag. As I got older, I went through a similar phase to most of loving fast fashion, regularly buying handbags, wallets and shoes. But overtime, I have naturally shifted back to that younger version of myself who appreciated the authenticity and quality of items.

Before moving to the country, I shifted my mindset to buying quality over quantity. A big part of this was making the choice to spend my free time, enjoying time with my kids, or on my wellbeing rather than shopping, and seeing that eventually these quality items pay for themselves due to not needing to be replaced as frequently. I also just couldn't see the point in unpacking my handbag everyday just to get out another colour and repack it all over again. Why not just have one quality item that goes with everything and lasts?!

✔ Community – Supporting local businesses, engaging with people who share your values, and fostering real, meaningful relationships. 

Bringing a weekly trip to the farmers markets into our routine allowed us to support local businesses, and local artisans, while showing our young family that big chain grocery stores are not the be all and end all. It gave us the opportunity to interact with people who were passionate about growing, producing  and crafting. It inspired a desire to try new flavours, new recipies and to cook more hearty and wholesome meals.

✔ Self-Sufficiency (In the Ways That Matter) – You don’t need a veggie garden and livestock to start the journey to self-sufficiency. It can be as simple as cooking from scratch, learning practical skills, or creating a home that feels like a retreat from the outside world.

While I desperately wanted one, I didn't have a full vegetable garden when living in suburbia. Instead we had a couple of rustic looking raised beds from Aldi to grow the vegetables we bought the most like tomatoes, baby spinach and lettuce. We did however, choose to integrate edibles throughout our whole garden when selecting plants to landscape with. From Thyme, Oregano, Parsley and Strawberries in our retaining walls, to dwarf citrus near our entertaining areas. This simple change drew us outside often to tend to the gardens and harvest for meals and entertaining.

✔ Balance – Appreciating the slower moments, while still enjoying the best of urban life—fine dining, great coffee, and beautiful style.

We created a haven in our home where we could retreat from the hustle and bustle. Within the home we brought in Vertical Groove wall paneling for a country feel, and farmhouse style feature lighting, timber flooring for a more rustic feel, and chose furniture pieces and soft furnishings that resonated with our interpretation of country. We designed our outdoor spaces to be private from our neighbours and full of greenery. We incorporated several zones where the kids could explore and play, create and use their imagination fostering an appreciation of outdoor living from a young age. 

We would make time to find and enjoy the naturally beautiful places that surrounded the place where we lived. We chose to spend our summer weekends listening to country music down by the river, barbequing and swimming until the sun went down. 

The Evolution of Country Living

The idea that you need to “give up” city luxuries to live the country life is outdated. You don’t have to live off-grid or trade in your lattes for a life of hard labor to embrace country values.

This is what Heritage Country is all about. It’s not about a location—it’s a way of life. A seamless blend of rural authenticity and refined urban comforts. A mindset that values both rugged landscapes and effortless elegance.

So whether you live on a sprawling property or in a chic apartment, you can still live country—if you choose to. Maybe you can adapt some of the ways I brought country into my life, to suit your own environment.

What do you think? Can you live the country life without moving to the country? Let’s talk in the comments. #LiveHeritageCountry