I was born and raised in a small mining town but moved upon returning from Basic Training and AIT for the Army National Guards to a populated metro area so I could be a live-in nanny as I went to college. My life path surprised my family because I was the shy, quiet one who loved being home. When I told my Dad I was going to join the Army National Guards he literally laughed out loud. When he saw I was serious, he brought out the rifle insisting I practice target shooting so I could ace at least one skill. I miss my dad.
Life in the city was fine for me. I quickly found all the green areas (parks, trails, lakes). My favorite spots in the city, consequently, were the natural ones. I got married to a true city boy (the picture of him on a canoe trip he reluctantly went on with me is hilarious as he looked so out of place in the woods). That marriage didn't last. When it hit me life kept ticking and this man would never retire to a small town like I dreamed, we ended it. (That wasn't the only reason we ended it, but it applies here)
Fast forward a few messy years -- I was engaged and my soon-to-be husband and I were looking for a place to live, to call our "hometown." We were also looking for "the house" - our home. It's hard to describe, you know it when you feel it. We landed in a small farming town, population 429 situated exactly in the middle (30-40 miles away) of two bigger towns that each have 12,000+. So I feel we have the best of both worlds here.
When we first drove into town to take a look, what struck me right away and gave me a good vibe was the massive memorial for vets. There are five 20-foot tall marble pillars (one for each branch) with names on them, stone and marble benches, a 10 foot wooden cross, flag poles (US, state and each branch of the military), flower gardens, cement path sidewalks and it all lights up beautifully at night. This in a town of 429!!! I mean, I feel that says good things about the people that live there.
The house was perfect and we fell instantly in love, claiming it as our own - which it is now.
We are friends with our neighbors, who run the lumber yard. They know everything that goes on in town but not in a "gossipy" way - they are great people.
I have learned that the term "Charity begins at home" applies to this town (and maybe that's the majority of rural towns which would explain why they don't believe in entitlement?). I have witnessed 5 fundraising events for those in need in the last year and a half. One of them raised well over $50,000. I donated 48 jumbo chocolate chip cookies wrapped with a tag that said, "Share with the one you love" for $5.00 each. They all sold. That same man who had the biggest fundraiser also had firetrucks and police cars escorting him back into town upon learning there was no hope, he was sent home to be comfortable. The sirens were blaring, school kids lined the sidewalks, everyone welcomed him home. It was heartwarming, I cried and I didn't even know the guy. My hairdresser (we even have a salon) donates her services once a month to either someone in need or someone deserving. The school has a running list of those they help to shovel sidewalks for in the winter - this is part of their curriculum, their school day. We have a chicken processing plant in town that employs mostly Mexican workers. Bless this town, they had a Taco Night one night in the summer with Spanish music - hey, they tried. It was a fun night. And yes, the crowd was both "white" and "brown." The Santa Box at the post office is overflowing each year with donated toys for kids in need, in our own town. The church married us for free as a way to Welcome us to the town even though we stated we weren't regular church goers. That darn church is just up the street and I get the warm-fuzzies often when the setting sun hits that steeple just right. We decided we will be buried in the cemetery in this town - it's maintained and beautiful and the hearse would drive by our house on the way there. That is heartbreaking to think of and I selfishly hope I am first to go. Halloween is a trip - kids being towed in trailers behind ATVs. Kids running, running, EVERYWHERE. We are the house that gives away full-size candy bars because it's fun. We keep a cash jar for when school kids come around selling something - of course we will support.
At my husband's Christmas party someone who used to live in our town had nothing but horrible things to say and I was chuckling on the inside as she shared her hatred because the things she complained about are the things I love: "everyone knows you," "everyone knows what you are doing," "it's boring." Ahhh... sounds perfect to me!! I love fires in our back yard - they have become an open invitation for neighbors to stop by with a beer of their own to chat a bit. They never stay too long - just one and they leave. I bring out the glow-sticks for their kids and have fun watching them run around. I love sitting on our deck in the summer hearing the sounds of the kids - it's like the 1970s - they run around outside and PLAY. I love seeing all the trucks parked in front of the one restaurant in town at 5 am - old farmers meeting up for coffee and farm-talk (overalls and all). I love that there is a grain elevator downtown (don't call it a silo). I love the ever-changing inspirational sign at the gas station. I love the fact the post office is open from 9 am to 9:45 am (lol) on Saturdays. I love the sky -- wow, do I love the sky. And open-ness. Corn fields all over. It seems insignificant, but it takes some getting used to when you are used to the city. The sky is so beautiful. I feel suffocated and closed-in in the city - but there is still so much beautiful space and our Country is so vast. We are lucky. I need that open air now, there would be no returning to the city for me.
Nicely expressed observation. I have always lived in small towns but have worked in large cities. The diversity of options of the large city is exciting but it cannot compare to the peace and charm of a small town. I can drive to a museum or a concert in the city whenever I want and still enjoy the community of my neighbors each day.
