My advice: Pick a college town. Find a small town that a major part of it's population is made up of students and faculty.

In college towns there's always good restaurants, chances to see plays & shows, and chances for social interaction.

Rural life is great until you realize that the best place in town is Applebee's.

George-
Here in Athens, GA sounds like what you need. Go 10 miles east of town and you're rural!

How can anyone possibly know what will be developed in the next decade? I have lived in an urban area for the past 10 years, right on the Hudson River. When we moved in, the entire waterfront was undeveloped; it has in the meantime been overbuilt, loads of traffic, condos, and townhouses, with more ferries, buses & now a light rail system for the (over)population.

Antarctica might be the only solution after all.