If You Lived Here You'd Be Home By Now: Why We Traded the Commuting Life for a Little House on the Prairie

I liked the book because it really opens up the dilemma of people choosing to live in the big city or in the country. One's values are being brought in the forefront with the reading. The author makes it very clear that, yes, we like the offerings of the big city but how long does it actually take us to get to them; how much time do I spend commuting every day just to make enough money to pay my bills without any advantages. What am I giving up in form of space, peace, and freedom for myself and my family to live somewhere which I pretend is to my benefit culturally and intellectually when in reality, I don't have the time nor strength to take advantage of the offerings.When the family decides to move to the "ugliest place" in the US, they quickly discover the beauty of the place and the kindness of the people who live there. Even with a special-needs child, the community resources are more humanly accessible than in a larger institution.Overall the book is an eye-opener because it truly shows the struggle the author and his wife go through to make the best decision for their family. It is funny and thoughtful and commuters everywhere will see themselves mirrored in the concerns presented.The book certainly re-opened my eyes regarding smaller community life.

Really enjoyable book about Washington Post journalist Christopher Ingraham, who wrote a story using data from the US agriculture department, to name the best and worst counties to live in the United States. Now he lives in the "worst" on in Red Lake County, MN, but it has been a life changer, going from 3 hours of commuting a day, to working at home. From the suburbs of Baltimore, to a tiny small town. From 2 kids to 3, because they had the space and money to be able to do that. He is an entertaining writer, and it was well worth the time!

Would you trade life in a bustling metropolitan area for a more laid back life in the middle of nowhere? It is something many of us city- slickers think about from time to time, but few of us ever follow through with making such a drastic change. But this is exactly what a man, his wife, and his two young sons decided to do, and the result is the subject of this book, If You Lived Here You’d be Home by Now.The author of this book and his wife both had successful careers in the Washington D.C. area. One day, the author, who worked as a journalist, decided to add his name to an article about the ugliest counties in America and at the top of this un-prestigious list was Red Lake County in Minnesota. The article garnered much attention and, rather than argue that the area was as ugly as the listing claimed, the author decided to visit. A short time later, he and his wife committed to uprooting and relocating there. This book details what life is like living in a place that, while certainly far less costly, is completely different from you are accustomed to and the many adjustments necessary to make it work.There are many things to like about this book and first and foremost is the author’s writing. The book has several funny moments, and the author keeps his sense of humor intact throughout as he and his wife struggle with the absence of luxuries they once took for granted, the extreme cold, and other cultural differences between northwest Minnesota and our nation’s capital. The book is fun and light- hearted and I like how the author and his wife try their best to adapt to the culture shock and make the best of their newfound home.Another cool part of the book is the busting of stereotypes. Sure, northwest Minnesota is starkly different from the Washington D.C. area, but as the author soon discovers, there are more similarities than he expected. They are all Americans and all people trying their best to succeed, to make a better life for themselves and their families. Still, the differences in lifestyle are obvious and it’s fun to read about the author’s experience with such activities like deer hunting and ice fishing- things that were completely foreign to him but for which he was ready and determined to learn and master.Given the extreme cold of northwest Minnesota, I expected more time would be devoted to coping with the temperatures, but it is only touched on briefly, near the book’s end. But as I read more and more, I realized that the extreme chill felt during the winter was just one of many changes to cross- examine. There was much else to see and learn about, and many people with whom to interact. The personal relationships are, in fact, among the most memorable in the book and if anything, I wish they had been developed and talked about more frequently.When you adventure to a new residence light- years different from the one you are used to, there are bound to be challenges. This book proves that there is often more to know about a specific part of the United States than word of mouth- or an official ranking of attractiveness- would lead you to believe. It’s a fun read that gets you thinking about the different subcultures that exist across this great land of ours and whether or not there truly is some merit in living in a place far removed from anything you have ever experienced before.

This is not just a charming and funny story, but a perceptive portrait of a family at a particular time and place in America where people are tired of moving where the jobs are and where the rents are correspondingly too damn high - with long commutes to boot. But it is also a refreshing, myth-breaking picture of the truer complexity of “rural” vs “urban” vs “suburban” stereotypes and the assumptions we carry because of them. Any family that is considering giving up urban culture and convenience to give their children the gift of their time and care should read this breezy, warming book.

The author Christopher Ingraham works for who is a reporter for the Washington Post comes across a project tht the USDA conducts to rate each county in the United States from worst to first on livability which ones that are the best to live in. He writes this article during the period of time when news is not plentiful, when most of Washington DC is on break. He is thinking this story writes it self and when he puts it to print and list the county of Red Lake County Minnesota as the worst place to live the fun begins. The author really thinks nothing of it when he post his story but almost instantly he starts he getting many responses from the people of Red Lake County showing all the great things. This leads to an invitation to visit he is thinking this may lead to another good story so why not. At the time the author writes the article in the Post he and his family live in Baltimore where with a wife and twins they really need more space but with the cost even with both parents working it is not conceivable. The other downside his travel time into work each day he figured that he spent a full month out of year just commuting. With the needs of a bigger place and the treatment he receives when he actually visits the worst county in the United States he starts to think that a change maybe in order. If you have lived in small town America you can relate to Red Lake County the place of life the willingness in neighbor helping neighbor you will understand.This book is a fast read so give it a try. I would have rated this book at 3 1/2 stars but it is not an option.

Liked it and I got it to read for my book club