I wonder how they'd feel about my place... sometimes on cloudy nights it's so dark I can't see my truck while walking up the driveway until I walk into it. The only sounds I hear at night are the refrigerator and freezer running, with an occasional truck going down the highway over 1/2 mile away.I would have to fire up the generator for hot water once what's in the tank got depleted. A couple years ago I replaced the old HW heater (with pilot and atmospheric vent) with a power-vent unit at the "strong suggestion" of the gas company (my vent is horizontal thru the side of the house, and didn't create enough draft to legally operate).
Agree with you on the silence...absolutely love it! There are days when other than the occasional passing vehicle the only sounds are those of nature. Can't put a price on that!! Funny, I have some "city" friends who find that much quiet disconcerting.
When I first bought this place there was no power, I built an outhouse/generator shed and an 8x12 foot camp. The first night we spent in it my dog- who wasn't afraid of anything- spooked when an owl sounded off in the distance.