The need for family physicians in rural areas across the United States and Canada is a long-standing issue that has been well documented. Two groups of physicians from the same rurally focused family medicine residency were interviewed over a three-month period using a semi-structured format. The participants focused particularly on the need to select carefully one’s life partner and practice partners and the difficulties in setting up practice in an area without family, friends or professional mentors nearby.The general consensus of respondents was that the career-life interface varies across individuals, changes over time and is always a work in progress.