Country wisdom

Because I’ve lived in both the city (most of my adult life) and the country (during my early childhood and now as a retiree), I often reflect on the differences between city folks and country folks. I’ve concluded that one of the biggest differences is between city smarts and country smarts.

By city “smarts,” I mean accumulated knowledge that could be called the wisdom of city folks. This wisdom might include: where’s the nearest Starbucks, which gas station has the best prices, or maybe even bus or train schedules for commuting. For some city folks, it might also be where it’s safe to walk at night, or where not to go even during the daytime.

Generally city wisdom is relatively easily acquired, whether by asking someone for directions, checking a schedule, or reading the newspaper. When I was a city dweller, these bits of wisdom framed my daily experiences.

When I moved to the country, I had to learn a uniquely different type of “smarts”. The wisdom of country folks is nature-based because animals and nature (not people) are our constant companions. And while you might read a book or talk to someone to get some information, I’ve found that country wisdom only comes with experience.

For example, I’ve learned from experience to distinguish birds based on their silhouettes. So a brief glimpse skywards is all I need to tell if a bird is a falcon after my free-ranging chickens, or a harmless vulture. I use this wisdom daily to keep my chickens alive.

Similarly, I need hear only a single yip to know if coyotes are close enough to threaten my cats, or if it’s safe to let them stay outside for the night.

When one of my dogs or cats gets bitten by a poisonous snake (in my area, usually a water moccasin), I’ve learned to distinguish when I can treat it myself, versus when the bite is serious enough to require veterinary care. With 6 dogs and 6 cats, this country wisdom has saved me thousands of dollars (note for city folks: each animal anti-venom treatment costs around $1800)!

And I can tell by the wake it leaves if a snake swimming near me in the river is a water moccasin, or a harmless water snake.

These bits of country wisdom have no correlation with my former city life, but they now frame my daily experiences.

So I can’t tell you where it’s safe to walk in San Antonio, and I don’t have a clue about bus service. You’re on your own when it comes to knowing where's the nearest Starbucks. But visit me in the country, and you'll learn things you don’t even know you need to know!