From big city to small town . . . (hairstylist, neighborhoods, high schools)

[whiteav]

We are moving from Portland Oregon to a small town (about 8000 people) in several months, and wondering what advice you have about adjusting to life in a small town. My husband is from the town and his parents live there, but has not lived there for years - we both have lived in large cities, and I am originally from a larger town (50,000+). We have two small kids and have decided to move there so we can be closer to family and have a quieter lifestyle (I work from home) - we are both quite excited about it. We visited his family for nearly six weeks and I really liked it. Since I have never lived in a small town, what should I know about small town living and the best ways to make friends, etc.? I keep getting skeptical comments from people about how I will survive since I have mostly lived in larger places . . . though I feel optimistic, so what am I missing???

[gotdebt]

Well, having grown up in Iowa most of my life and attending college, I found the people in a small town to be very friendly. Shouldn't be hard to make friends. That being said, do what I do in the large towns I have lived in (Indianapolis, Chicago and Phoenix). Get out and enjoy the places were you live. Most neighborhoods in big cities are comparable to small towns. I shop local, eat local and play local. You start to see the same people over and over and as long as you nice, you shouldn't have any issue making friends.

Eat at the ma and pa places. Meet the owners. Shop the local stores even if Wal-Mart is cheaper. Talk to guy who owns the gas station, the girls that work the registers at the grocery store, your hairstylist probably has grown up there. IN small towns, the high schools are a focal point, so get involved in the school and no matter what, go to the Friday night football games and the basketball games. Heck, women's softball is pretty good in Iowa and a warm sunny summer day watching softball isn't a bad thing. Join one of the local churches, play on their softball leagues. Get ice cream saturday night with everyone else. Attend the county fair.

Oh and of course, occasionally hit the local watering hole. It may be the VFW or what not, but cold cheap beer on a summer night. Ah, nothing better.