I would never live in a rural area because of all the problems mentioned. Probably your friends don’t want to drive so far.
Believe me it has been great when we were working (well- my husband still is working). And I am home now and I appreciate it so much- what we have. This evening- a herd of deer were running and playing and I could watch them through all our windows. I went snowshoeing yesterday on our property- it was beautiful outside in the sun. My husband and i went for a walk on our road which follows a brook, which is also on our property. It is peaceful. No neighbor BS. Our small hamlets and towns are a pleasure to drive in and shop in. So many benefits.
It was like having a private retreat and frankly, when we were working we did not have a lot of time to socialize between caring for the home and our son, family obligations and needing some private time, etc.
Actually, all our friends come up here to our house once per year for a big reunion. (they call it The Big Chimilia- a take on the movie The Big Chill combined with our last name. LOL!) They love it here in the country and we have been doing this all our lives. We all have so much fun and the day goes so fast!
But we are all older now so it is hard as we do not have enough bedrooms to put up everyone and they have the long drive home- though I guess they could get a hotel but choose not to. But they are still coming!
But, of course, that is just once per year. And we cannot age in our house only because of the 700 foot driveway and seclusion. Though I guess if I needed help I am very active on Facebook! Seriously- I think the best thing will be to go into a community type setting- 55 or 62+ and closer to where our son lives. That is all we've got. I have no other ideas.
Today I was cooking on my stove- which is just a few years old, as is my whole kitchen- and I kept thinking at some point soon I will be living in a different home and not have all these things that I picked out myself and love. All the work we did here. The things we painstakingly chose for good reasons- all the comforts- all the things that are our taste and our preferences. 31 years here. It's going to be hard but it has to be done.
And then hopefully we will make a few friends where we move, though they will never be like our old friends I am sure..