How 'country' are you talking? Like with anything there are pros and cons - biggest con for me is having to drive everywhere all the time if i want to get something and there is no 'nipping down to the shops' for bread or milk if you run out. But overall the pros far outweigh any cons for us because it's a complete lifestyle that you get yourself into by living rural. The other thing in regards to school is that you may not have much choice depending on where you go and if you go somewhere with only one school and it's not brilliant, you just have to make do kwim? But in my experience country schools are fantastic and they have a real sense of community and family. not saying that city schools don't have that, but rather that country schools do too. As for work, I guess you will have to look at the areas you are considering and see what they have to offer? And you will probably miss the city at first - I know I missed living in town and walking to the newsagents to get the paper everyday and grab a coffee etc, but that's a pretty small thing to miss ITMS. I didn't miss the drunks walking past my window at 3am and banging on them or the general noise of town thats for sure!