6 Reasons Why I Love Small Town Living

I am a big city girl. I grew up and lived in the suburbs and downtown areas of major metropolitan cities my whole life until grad school, which happened to be in a small mid-western town. I had intended to stay for grad school, then move the first chance I got. Well, then my husband and I got married, I got a job, then we had one child, then another, etc. We have now been here for over ten years.

At first, my arrival produced quite a bit of culture shock. Not only were there no frozen yogurt places, no bars (it's a conservative Christian community), and no clothing retailers outside Maurices and Walmart, but just the way they looked at life was so different from the way I grew up that it took me a while to feel at home.

Well, a decade later, I have fit more easily into the community, even if I'm still not cut from the same cloth as most people. In fact, I am more like a patch on a screen door – the patch functions, but everyone knows that it's not part of the original meshing.

I have found some advantages of living in this small mid-western community, though, which I'd like to share with you.

1. My husband and I got married for $5,000. This includes the dress, tux rental, church rental, reception, cake, etc. This was no relish-tray reception either; we're talking a fully-catered meal. You'll need to overlook that the only reception hall in town (outside a church basement) happens to be at the hospital, though. I mean, it's $10 a day, per room. I had all three rooms for two days for $60. How much was your reception hall? My sister said that I should write a book on how we were able to get married so cheaply. My answer was simply get married in this small town.

2. I know everyone who works at the local Walmart and the grocery stores. I couldn't tell you their names, but I know who's going to shake my paint cans and can ask the lady at the check-out counter how her kids are enjoying their dance classes.

3. I just had a pulled pork sandwich, chips, and a can of soda for $5, tax included. ‘Nuff said.

4. The local diner has a wall full of hooks filled with regulars' coffee mugs. When the “old timers” come in, they pick up their mugs, choose their table and enjoy a cup of joe out of their very own mugs. I want my mug up there, too. I might have to live here for another 20 years or so, though. (Plus, they make all the children's pancakes into Mickey or Minnie Mouse pancakes without even being asked. And you want to try that pancake with strawberries? “Sure, we've got some fresh berries in the back. We'll chop some up for you.” Is that sweet, or what?)

5. Store owners see customers as people, not just dollar signs. It's amazing to me how often store or restaurant owners here will work with their customers to really get them what they want. In the city, most proprietors know that you are just one of hundreds of customers that may or may not come into the store again. Here, you are not just a customer, but also a fellow church-goer, diner frequenter, and neighbor to their neighbor's brother's sister-in-law.

6. People ask you how you are. They may not always have time to listen to your answer, but at least they ask. And most everyone is very friendly. Again, you probably know their sister-in-law's brother's neighbor's neighbor, so there's no point in being rude. Odds are good, you are going to see each other again. It's not like in the city, where you can remain anonymous. There are only so many places you can go, and unless you feel like driving a half an hour away to go shopping in another town, you might as well try to make relationships work in this community.

I know there are many other benefits to living in a small town like keeping your doors unlocked, but growing up in the city, I've never really gotten accustomed to that.

What benefits have you found to the community where you live? What do you love about your town?