>>why anyone would choose rural Bulgaria
Plovdiv is not rural, but he is going to find it challenging if he wants a girlfriend. Modest income, unstable career/income, doesn't speak Bulgarian, doesn't speak Russian which would make learning Bulgarian easy, doesn't have permanent residency permit, doesn't seem to be Chad... I had a great time hiking/camping in Bulgaria, but then I was seeking solitude. OP is going to get solitude whether seeking it or not.
Plovdiv is not rural, but he is going to find it challenging if he wants a girlfriend. Modest income, unstable career/income, doesn't speak Bulgarian, doesn't speak Russian which would make learning Bulgarian easy, doesn't have permanent residency permit, doesn't seem to be Chad... I had a great time hiking/camping in Bulgaria, but then I was seeking solitude. OP is going to get solitude whether seeking it or not.