Each week, I'm waited on by the same cashiers at the grocery store. A high school friend manages the local movie theater. My bank teller knows me and what I drive. The guy at the gas station picks up our conversation where we left off last time. (Yes, I go in to pay because it would be rude not to say Hi.) Anywhere I go, I'm likely to see people who know me, or who know my family.
That makes for a little more personal responsibility than you find in a large city where you'll likely never know if you see the same people twice. We know each other here, and we get involved. We're NICE.
I have nosey neighbors who are in my business, bless their hearts. They know everything that's going on around here, and if something's amiss they're right on top of it. I am thankful for my nosey neighbors. I wish them on you, too, like a blessing.
If you stand in line for anything around here, expect the people around you to smile and start up a conversation. Do not be alarmed, you are not about to be scammed. They really DO want to know how you are, and they really DO want you to have a nice day.
Someone may walk up to you in the parking lot at the grocery store, help you load your trunk, wish you a nice day and walk the cart in for you. That was not a scam either. That was just someone who thought you could use a hand, and as they had one to spare they helped out. Smile and enjoy.
If you're thinking of relocating to West Virginia, we welcome you.
We have plenty of room for more, and we'll be glad to meet you. Let me know if I can help you get here.
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Sarah, your "small" town sounds like a wonderful place. The kind they make heartwarming movies about. I like the slower pace.
Do not be alarmed, you are not about to be scammed. <----- you know city slickers do think that, right? rofl!
Your just a Small Town Girl! Didn't jackson Browne or Bryan adams or someone do a song about a small town?
I got it...John Cougar Mellencamp and Small Town! Best That I Could Do (1978-1988) CD
Yup... you can breathe in a small town... But there are good people everywhere. Many of the NY's I work with are very friendly and thoughtful.
Hi Sarah, I was raised in a small town too. When I got my first job at a large hospital in Kansas City, I was awestruck by the fact that the hospital had more employees than we had people in our whole town. There is a sense of "connectedness" in a small town that is very special. One thing that we laugh about is how everybody knows everybody else's geneology in a small town - for generations it seems. It's hilarious.
Hi Sarah- I also live in a small town, where I grew up and everyone knows each other. I had moved away for a few years, but came back when I realized it's better to have neighbors that know your business, than neighbors who couldn't care less.
Hi Sarah! I used to live in a "village" much like your small town. It was Ballston Spa, NY just outside of Saratoga Springs and I miss it. People were just how you describe here, the town was mostly homes with a main street that was the business district and that was pretty much it. In the summers I would walk 4 miles everyday and folks would wave as they drove by or as I walked by their houses while sitting on their porches. You just can't beat a life like that sometimes.
Sarah, I went back and visited my small town last summer. Take a look at the localism pictures I uploaded of Wakeman, Ohio. Population: 951
http://localism.com/real-estate/OH/Huron%20County/Wakeman
Maggie - After I posted this, I thought I should have the disclaimer, "PROBABLY they are not scamming you," but that just didn't feel right.
Danny - I know that song well. My brother used to repeat "Small Town" in a monotone every time JCM sang it. It's mentioned more times than you'd think possible in one song!
Dan - Too true! There were wonderful people in Charlotte, too. (That's the biggest city I've lived in.) It was just sometimes harder to find them among the ones afraid to connect with strangers.
Lea - When I lived in Charlotte, I could address a letter to my Grandma as "Grandma Murphy, Red House WV 25168" and it would GET THERE. My coworkers laughed so much at that, but that's a small town for you! The people at the post office knew Grandma Murphy and that she would get mail from Sarah down in Charlotte.
Allison - I was gone for six years. I've been back for about 10 and I STILL get happy driving down the main drag.
Lysa - I love that small town feel! I used to drive past this house before we owned it (my husband called me House Stalker, I am perfect for real estate) and the neighbors would wave and smile. I loved the neighborhood as much as the house. I simply HAD to be here. We're a bunch of porch sitters here, too.
Chris - Thanks for that!! What awesome pictures! I love the waterfall and the old buildings have such character. I wish I could leave comments on pictures! What was that Burglar Alarm one???
It was a burglar alarm. Although I lived in that town for nearly 20 years I didn't realize that build was the orginal bank until my visit.
Well, thanks, Chris! ;o) Looked really different to me, but very cool. Makes sense that it was on an old bank building.
Hi Sarah, The town we live in has 3500 people, 1 bank, 1 grocery store, no line at the post office and a feed/hardware store. The sign in front of the feed store reads "Chicks for sale" and they really are talking about chickens:) We love it!!!!
Sarah...
He forgot to tell you that around here you have to be careful when the Southern Gentlemen hold the doors open for you...
Why do we have to careful? Because sometimes they accidentally spit tabaccie on your lovely shoe :)
Hi Sarah,
Nashville,TN is much like what you describe in your town. I moved here from CA almost 10 years ago and was in for a not-so-rude awakening when I experienced such wonderful Southern Charm. My husband is from Nashville and everywhere we go we run into people he knows. At first I was uncomfortable with that but then I really started to like it. My "small" town is large enough to have plenty of things to do, yet small enough to run into people you know at the grocery store. How sweet it is.......
I loved reading this! I am too much of a city-girl though. My 360k pop. city is too small for me sometimes. But there is a place for everyone, right?
Sarah,
What a lovely post. Is that gazebo in your town square? Do you have festivals there?
Looks like a very nice town.
Thanks for sharing.
Lucky :)
Sarah,
Small towner's unite. I love small town life. When I took my 17 year old to traffic court, the judge was her English 1 A teacher at the junior college (he let her off with a warning), when my kids where spinning donuts in their car at the parking lot of a local Dr., there was a message on my answering machine when I got home and today, my husband heard war stories by other teacher's of having the Gatti twins (my sons) in their class. Apparently that is something you never get over.
Ain't small town life grand?! Yes, it is.
Fran
Sarah it is grand lliving in a small town isn't it. People often do a double take when they find out I do not live in the resort I work in. I love my little town - my graduating class was a big class of 36.
Broker Bryant - You're in an even smaller town than me! Love it!
Billie -Eeeek!!! I know that actually happens ... there's a lot of that around here, too!
Anthea - Love that Southern Charm! When it's done well, it doesn't matter the size of the city. It will FEEL like a small town!
Mariana - Thanks! Yes, sometimes I do miss parts of bigger city life. I actually enjoyed traffic. Don't think I'm insane, but I didn't know many people there and if my car broke down, I had the assurance that they WOULD get me out of the way and help would come. (This was before cell phones, which makes me feel ancient.)
Lucky - That gazebo is on Main Street right across from the shopping. All shops are small, family owned and charming. There are functions at the gazebo, gathering at different times of the year and a live nativity scene at Christmas. We're not that politically correct around here, we do have Christmas.
Fran - Just this week someone called me because one of my listings had kids up on the roof. You can't get away with anything for long in a small town! (And now that I'm a parent -- thank goodness!!!)
Thesa - Oh, you've so got us beat!! We had about 200 in my graduating class. It's a lot more than that now. There are perks of small town life, it can be worth a job commute.
Sarah--My husband grew up in a little town in Iowa that we visit from time to time. Can't be much more than 500 people living there. We went for the 4th of July parade on the town's 100th Anniversary and were treated like family even though he hadn't been back in 20 years!
We are now outside of the Twin Cities and though friendly, it is no small town.
It is evident from your post how much you love where you live! I think you could convince anyone to move to West Virginia! Thanks for sharing!
Teri,
Where in Iowa?
Lucky :)
Hi Sarah,
We're so envious! That's the way it used to be around the area we live in but with the growth of the population and the close proximity to NYC, things have become quite a bit more like big town verses small town. There is much to be said for small towns and they certainly are comforting. You're very fortunate to have remained in familiar settings. Very nice post - thanks for sharing!
Teri - Don't you love that? Even after 20 years away, there's nothing like it!
Lisa - Things are growing fast around here, too. I hope we don't lose this small town feel. Progress has it's ups and downs and nothing stays the same.
Lucky--Armstrong, IA just south of Fairmont, MN...Nice little town! :)
Teri,
I spent a weekend in Estherville judging the Miss Great Lakes/Miss Okoboji Scholarship Program about 8 years ago. I also judged the Miss Kossuth/Miss Winnebago Scholarship Program a couple years after that. The Armstrong, Iowa area is indeed full of great people and beautiful country. It's in Iowa......what's not to love!
The only thing that surprises me is that Sarah is not from Iowa. There must be nice people in West Virginia as well!
Lucky :)