You need a footpath outside your house otherwise everytime the kids want to go absolutely anywhere you will have to drive them.
Likewise at night you are going to be stuck as well. If you have to walk on the road at all some drunk/uninsured/stolen/joyrider will knock you down and possibly kill you. If you take your car you can't have a drink.
Moving house is a very big decision to make and if you get it wrong it will cost you a fortune in legal and estate agent fees to put it right.
Move into a rented house of the type you are thinking of buying for a while and see how it works. With house prices going down you will probably be able to afford a better hous in a year anyway.
God Murt,
You sound negative altogether - joyriders and getting killed - didn't think living in the country was that bad. I've lived in the country for 15 years, what would I need a footpath outside my gate for? True you have to bring kids but you can't let kids rule your life either, you have to suit yourself as to what they are involved in. I live 2 miles from nearest town and I try to keep activities local also for kids. With regard to going to the pub - a taxi two miles out of town isn't going to cost the earth. Everyone's priorities are different - I will admit having moved from Dublin 15 years ago there were certain things I missed but I don't miss them anymore. There are 3 schools within 1.5 to 2 miles from where I live - that's not far for me. I know people living in town and they still drive their kids to school. It is a big decision to make and I think it is vitally important to have nice neighbours whether you live an estate or in the country - in the country people do keep to themselves a bit more but are there if you need them and certainly at christmas time here all the neighbours exchange gifts and call around to each other's house for a mince pie. But one piece of advice I would give to NDP if you're not used to living in the countryside don't move any further than a radius of say 1.5 to 2 miles.