I used to work in Houston. In Houston, almost everything (maybe not pharmacies, but the average destination) is at least 10-12 miles away and people are used to

I used to work in Houston. In Houston, almost everything (maybe not pharmacies, but the average destination) is at least 10-12 miles away and people are used to it. And Houston is highly populated. Kernville (pop. 1549, just outside Bakersfield) seems very remote, and if one elects to live in such a remote place, one is implicitly signing up to be far away from civilization, and traveling 10-12 miles ("going into town") every now and then is part of the deal. Having a car is also part of the deal. That is one's free choice. I grew up with friends who lived in rural Canada and this is normal for them, and they would gladly make this choice even now. In fact, this is idyllic for some.