Today, as I was driving down the country road of my more rural, smaller town, I started thinking about the benefits and drawbacks of living in a small town. Certainly the beautiful mountains, changing foliage, and fields of corn are not what I consider a drawback, but what about other things that bigger towns/cities offer or provide.
The news of the horrible murder in Connecticut may have triggered this debate in my head. What I heard this morning was that the police were called but didn’t react perhaps as quickly as they should have because they never had to deal with such a heinous situation. Of course hindsight is twenty-twenty, and I’m not blaming anyone other than the accused murders, but it got me thinking – what if a dire emergency happened in my small town? Would the many wonderful volunteers who make up our rescue squad and fire department know what to do in a timely fashion? Would their experience and training give them the wherewithal they need? (I sincerely hope I will never have to find out and hope they never are put in that situation either, but …)
I think at times that living in smaller towns give you the false sense of security that due the fewer people and less populated roads, horrific crimes may not happen as often as they do in larger towns and cities. Yet open the local paper now and again, and you do see that crimes happen everywhere, including towns very near my home.
But then again, there’s something magical to me about looking out my window and seeing horses, trees, grass and more trees. I think deciding on whether a small or big town is for you also has to do with your comfort zone and what you’re used to. For example, I had a friend ask me once, aren’t you spooked by living out there and having no lights or neighbors that you can see when it’s dark? My response was that I was more comfortable with fewer lights and no people walking around the neighborhood as she often told me happened near her house.
Then there’s the whole small town everyone knows everyone and everything you do complaint. Sometimes it’s nice to know that no matter where you go in town, someone you know may be there to say hi, ask about the kids, your health and job. But then again, sometimes it would be nice not to have everyone know you got stopped for a traffic ticket yesterday afternoon …
What do you prefer– living in small town or a larger one? Share you thoughts and reasons here, and then remember the age-old adage – “home is where your heart is.”
Sandi Duncan is the Managing Editor of the Farmers' Almanac. 
If you notice a hole in the upper left-hand corner of your Farmers' Almanac, don't return it to the store! That hole isn't a defect; it's a part of history. Starting with the first edition of the Farmers' Almanac in 1818, readers used to nail holes into the corners to hang it up in their homes, barns, and outhouses (to provide both reading material and toilet paper). In 1910, the Almanac's publishers began pre-drilling holes in the corners to make it even easier for readers to keep all of that invaluable information (and paper) handy.
6 comments
I grew up in a city of 300,000+ people. Ever since I was age of 6 I helped my grandfather on the rice farm during summer vacation, and holiday’s. I knew by the age of 10 I could not, and would not be a city dweller during my adult life. In the City most are always in a hurry, I see a majority of people pass right by someone in need and never consider to stop and help. They rarely take time and have an actual conversation with someone they don’t know, they say ‘How ya doing” as they hurry off somewhere. I live 4 miles outside of a town of 280 people( I swear they must be counting horses and dogs in that number) And people here care. Anyone breaks down on the side of the hwy. that passes through town, before 15 minutes can pass, they’ll be 15 people stop to help, somebody looses a job, or gets hurt and cant work, people pitch in, make sure the family doesn’t go hungry. Here, is the way life should be everywhere. NO you can keep your city life, I’ll never go back
It seems that each day brings a different answer to this question for me. Some morning I can’t think of anything better than the cool, crisp, country air, and during the summer there is nothing better than a fresh watermelon from your own yard. And like you Sandi, I enjoy the clear skies without city lights and the quiet offered when no one is walking down the sidewalk. But there there are weekend nights when I miss my old home of Brooklyn, NY where I could go up to the corner and grab a slice no matter what time it was or the clinking of the subway as it cruised through streets filled with energy and life.
Both environments have their pros and cons. I think the secret though is to find happiness in yourself and not in your environment.
I have just moved back to the country after 18 years of city-dwelling and the difference has been amazing. We purchased a small farm close to my alma mater and are enjoying the trials and tribulations of growing a vegetable garden, raising farm-fresh eggs, and adding a milk cow in the near future. I would never have appreciated these simple (not easy) chores 18 years ago, but now they feel like that sweatshirt that I have left from college days…slightly worn but oh so comfortable.
People need to live in small towns as children, go to big cities for their education and young working years, return to small towns to raise their own children, and then live where it suits them after. Everyone needs experience with a garden, even if it’s only a tomato plant and a nursery can on the fire escape; everyone should also check out reliable on-line news services and information sites regularly. Liberty Hyde Bailey once said we needed more nature in the cities and more enlightenment in the country, and we are now in a position to get them.
I have lived in the city my entire 47 plus years and would welcome the small town life.
Small town-definately!! I love going for walks and always finding folks to chat with. And yes, everyone knows your business, but I consider that a positive. If you EVER need help, a half dozen people are there within 5 minutes. Try that in a big city.
I realize we don’t have theaters and clubs, but block parties, picnics and lots of visiting fill our days.
Leave a Comment