The Urban Redneck

Urbandictionary.com has two different definitions pages for "urban redneck.' The first of which breaks down into three basic personality types. The "Transplant" is one who has moved from his/her rural setting to the big city for work. This person retains their country roots and ethos whilst enjoying all the city has to offer. The "Poser" has little to no rural roots but proclaims to lead the country life. Think City Slickers.

I fall into the third category, the "post modern redneck:"

3) The Postmodern Redneck is also found all over North America. The Postmodern Redneck may, or may not, have Redneck roots. As opposed to "The Poser", the Postmodern Redneck has experienced a philosophical transformation in which he rejects modernism and urbanity, in favor of simpler more genuine way of life. The Postmodern Redneck is often an educated professional who owns guns, hunts wild game, and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty changing oil or cleaning a stable. (see http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=urban+red+neck)

Keith and I moved to Atlanta from Boston earlier this year. In 2005, we moved from Gainesville, FL to Boston. I've always lived in either cities or suburbs. Keith has run the full gambit from country to town to back. We moved to Atlanta partially because I kept getting laid off and it would probably be better to live somewhere a little cheaper.

Mainly, though, we were interested in finding a place that combined country life with the best a city has to offer. We also have the aim towards self-suffiency, ala The Good Life. So far, I have a number of plants in the ground and seedlings in the kitchen. Chickens to follow.

Keith referred to our attempt at homesteading city-style as being "urban rednecks." It was only natural that I blog about this contradictory lifestyle. We are not the first to come up with this phrase. Others have urban redneck blogs. The terms cosmo-redneck and metro-redneck can also be found on the interwebs. I felt urban-redneck best described our outlook if we use the term "urban" in the African-American sense. I know most people equate the term redneck with White, but you will find vast similarities between any peoples living in the country or in the South. Keith recently went to a men's prayer breakfast; each man received a Ford camo baseball cap. Does the fact that all the men there were African American make it any less redneckey?

Next post: Descriptions of my propertay and my thoughts on cars