There are plenty of disadvantages to living in remote rural locales. Getting anywhere involves driving a long way, and fuel costs are higher here than anywhere else. It's an hour's drive to major shopping centres. Public transport is non-existent. The nearest railway station to us is 50 minutes' drive away. Major hospital an hour away. And so on. But when I go into Bude I've seen all the faces before. I know loads of people to talk to (can be a disaster if you're in a hurry!). I'm on first-name terms with all our doctors and teachers. There's amusing banter at the checkouts in every supermarket. I suppose there could be downsides: if ever I were to have an affair, for example (heaven forfend), I'd be the talk of the town within a week. On the other hand, it was never hard to find out what our kids were getting up to, poor buggers! But the overriding thing is the friendliness. And I can be walking on an amazing beach or over the cliffs five minutes after leaving the house. Can't see us ever moving back into a big town!