My sister has her own "petting zoo", just outside her kitchen door. There are cows, 2 baby calves and two donkeys. The donkeys will come up to the fence everyday, looking directly at the kitchen door, to see if she is going to come out and give them
apples or other fruit. In return they allow her to pet them, and they probably like it as well. Living out in the country certainly is peaceful, but I'm sure I'd get really bored after awhile.
