I mean, the nearest town to me (pop.<600) has fiber internet. Many rural/small towns have local co-ops that no one talks about who are offering fiber. What else would you need?
Worthwhile options for dining out, drinking, entertainment, social interaction not centered around religion, preferably a social circle that has at least some liberal viewpoints, and a nearby airport so I can take vacations without multiple connections. I don't live in the Bay, but I doubt a tiny farming village would offer even half of what I'd like. I could probably get by in a city as small as 100k if I wanted to work from home forever, but I don't -- I enjoy the social aspect of an office.
Personally, a fairly liberal set of laws in place to maintain my current set of rights and options let alone those for my female partner. I won't be moving to a state that insists in conservative social policies like banning abortion and cutting education or basic infrastructure under the guise of lowering taxes. I like living in a functional democracy, at as a state, and happy to pay taxes for things like better schools and roads.
That's actually one thing I really like about living in a Northern Rural area. The rural attitude of 'live and let live' and 'leave me the fuck alone' carries over to relationships and home life. Nobody really cares about my relationship with my partner, as long as I'm willing to leave them the fuck alone.
I say 'northern' rural area, just because I've never lived in a rural area in the south of the US.
I don't have anything against that or moving to a location that meets your values.
It's more that I'd prefer to support schools and social programs, and have those open to me as best as possible, than get away from it all. I've been in a spot where if it wasn't for the ACA I'd be dead (specifically extension of parents insurance until child is 26) and if I didn't have strong local schools growing up I probably wouldn't have gone far. We do better when we work together and pool resources for all, including the next generation. It's hard for me to be a part of that by moving somewhere rural.
And I can't bring myself to move to a red state unless it's flipping purple and willing to basically pull a Virginia. The social rights differences between colors is serious and unfortunate.
