With the cost of gasoline stretching many budgets, I'm usually the first to suggest that people move closer to their jobs. Spending money and time on long commutes seems like a waste of resources.

This logic would seem to preclude a move to the country, with the complete reliance on automobiles that this entails. For rural residents, there's almost no way to earn a living without driving long distances. Even farmers commute to jobs in town, primarily for access to health insurance.

And yet, the more I see of rural economies, the more convinced I become that moving to the country is a viable option for some job-seekers. Consider these facts:

• Most small towns are declining in population, as older residents move away or pass on. This creates an opportunity and a need for new residents.

• Houses in small towns and rural areas can be much less expensive — and far more expansive — than homes in larger areas.

• Although jobs can be scarcer, they exist. School districts, care centers, processing plants and retailers are common employers in most rural areas. In fact, I'm seeing a greater need for workers in rural areas than I've seen in quite awhile. With so many people aging in place, for example, care centers and government agencies are running nearly constant ads in the local papers for people to serve this population.

Self-employed tradespeople — including plumbers, carpenters and electricians — are also in high demand, to make the home repairs that people can't do themselves. Rural areas actually may be a jackpot for enterprising, energetic people who are willing to handle a variety of tasks.

In the small, northwestern Minnesota community where my husband was raised and where his mother still lives independently in her 90s, there are several services that an individual could perform for others: mowing lawns; cleaning houses; plowing snow; buying groceries and running errands for those who can no longer drive; and providing hair cuts, chiropractic care and auto repair. People in rural areas have trouble accessing these services.

But what about the wages? And the isolation? And the lack of access to cultural centers? All good points. I've had time to think about them on my five-hour drives to and from my in-laws', and I've come to some conclusions:

• Cultural venues: Most people I know who talk about the importance of cultural events seem to attend very few of them (myself included). Do you live in a city? Raise your hand if you've attended a play, concert or art opening in the last month. If your hand stayed at your side, consider that you would increase your "culture intake" by scheduling monthly trips from your country home.

• Isolation: How many nights do you spend on the couch, watching television? If you mostly keep to yourself anyway, moving to the country may be good for you. You'd see the same people repeatedly at the bank and grocery store, and you might make deeper connections than you're making now.

• Wages: Yes, in nearly all categories, the wages are lower in rural areas than elsewhere. Knowing that you'd get paid less makes this decision one to consider carefully. You'd also have to factor in higher costs of transportation. But other expenses — most notably housing — would be lower. If you don't have much consumer debt, you might find that the wages and housing costs balance each other in your budget.

Relocating is always a big decision, particularly if you have a family. Moving to the country is probably a bigger leap than moving from one neighborhood to a similar one. But if you think this idea is for you, the current economy may be one of the most favorable you'll find for this kind of move.

Start your process by choosing two or three communities. Then plan a long weekend in each area to see how you like it.

Subscribing to local newspapers will help you track the housing costs and job openings, but you won't get the whole story there. A lot of business in small towns — like everywhere else — is conducted person-to-person.

If you want the inside scoop, meet people. Make yourself a familiar face at the churches, cafés and bars — the recognized centers of commerce in every rural community.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecare rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.