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We semi retired early 10 years ago to a small tourist town in WA and while I was fine there my husband never was able to make roots there.
We were from bay area and he had hard time with it being more conservative and full of churches. I knew all this but like many say you go to a few festivals, enjoy the mountains and he fell in love, it was him that picked the place then disliked it later.
We sold house and moving to north of Eureka. I wanted cooler summers and we both love the ocean and its closer to kids in bay area.
I am looking forward to all the organic food places there.
I think everyone is different and you have to go where you think is best for your own particular lifestyle.
I make friends pretty easy and can adjust to city or small town, they both have things to offer. I did think about the medical part of it but also quality of day by day life. Everything is a choice.
If you're healthy enough, join the local volunteer fire department, which is almost always in need of them, or if you're not, join the Fire Police or Ladies Auxiliary. Volunteer at the elementary school, the library, the food pantry, or the 4-H. If you're of a religious bent, join a local church. Join the local historical society, grange, the conservation/rod and gun club or Moose or whatever.
Will some hoity-toity snobs think you're an interloper? Undoubtedly, but snobs be snobs whether they live in small towns or big cities, but since they're judgmental about everybody who's not in their little clique, there are lots of others who will be more welcoming.
You make some good points. If YOU move into a small town or small community and YOU want to make friends, YOU need to be the one that gets involved in volunteer activities and the like where you will meet people. in MOST places, other people are NOT going to reach out. They have lived there for years and have hundreds of friends already.
Also, it is going to take a while for people to warm up to you. Some of the things that we did in January and February to meet people are just NOW starting to pay dividends.
I think that it is really rather arrogant to move into an area and expect people to stop their busy lives and make friends with you are the newbie. It just does not work like that.
You make some good points. If YOU move into a small town or small community and YOU want to make friends, YOU need to be the one that gets involved in volunteer activities and the like where you will meet people. in MOST places, other people are NOT going to reach out. They have lived there for years and have hundreds of friends already.
Also, it is going to take a while for people to warm up to you. Some of the things that we did in January and February to meet people are just NOW starting to pay dividends.
I think that it is really rather arrogant to move into an area and expect people to stop their busy lives and make friends with you are the newbie. It just does not work like that.
Yep. And a lot of people from big urban areas tend to bring their "defense mechanisms" with them -- and don't shed them. Like not making eye contact with strangers or not smiling/waving unless they know the person.
BTW, if you move to an area with your dog(s), keep in mind that dogs are almost as good as children (maybe even better in some cases) for making connections with others with shared interests. So is gardening in your front yard in areas that have sidewalks and some pedestrian traffic.
We semi retired early 10 years ago to a small tourist town in WA and while I was fine there my husband never was able to make roots there.
We were from bay area and he had hard time with it being more conservative and full of churches. I knew all this but like many say you go to a few festivals, enjoy the mountains and he fell in love, it was him that picked the place then disliked it later.
We sold house and moving to north of Eureka. I wanted cooler summers and we both love the ocean and its closer to kids in bay area.
I am looking forward to all the organic food places there.
I think everyone is different and you have to go where you think is best for your own particular lifestyle.
I make friends pretty easy and can adjust to city or small town, they both have things to offer. I did think about the medical part of it but also quality of day by day life. Everything is a choice.
I wonder if we live in the same town?? If I didn't know better, this could have been my post! Good luck, you're going where I want to be!
Or there is no clinic/doctor. I will always be grateful for my small town giving me a chance, but, being 9 miles from any type of medical care is scary. Although, at the same time, I am mere minutes from EMT help.
Really one could ask the same about moving to a large city and get answers in single cases from a lot of people. Then of course others will disagree. Ask about HOA and watch the bag of worms that opens.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Originally Posted by texdav
Really one could ask the same about moving to a large city and get answers in single cases from a lot of people. Then of course others will disagree. Ask about HOA and watch the bag of worms that opens.
I will have to guess that the woman's groups at the HOA don't offer Ladies day out at the shooting range It's a fairly common venue at the rural church groups in TX.
I do prefer the potlucks tho
I really had a GREAT rural country school as a kid. The PTA had a LOT of fun events that brought the community together. Again...(as a tubby tummy... ~100 lbs) I preferred the 'pie socials' where you bid for the pie of your sweetheart,,, can't recall having a pie social lately! We had box socials too (dinner boxes), and Runza feeds (homemade cabbage burgers / wraps) and Chili dinners.
We made a TON of money having an annual crab crack! (flying fresh crab into the mtns). The population of several small towns showed up that night! I think we eventually served about 1,000 dinners and had to start at noon - 10 PM to get everyone fed!
One of my Favorite 'small town stories' is the "North Platte Canteen" North Platte Canteen "From December 25, 1941 until April 1, 1946 more than 6 million servicemen and women who traveled through Nebraska during World War II fondly remember the hospitality of the North Platte Canteen where every troop train was met by volunteers who prepared and served sandwiches, coffee, cookies, cakes, and other homemade ‘goodies’ during stops there. This site is in honor of those servicemen and women, the Canteen and its volunteers as a reminder of its proud past; an opportunity to look back in time."
To the OP (Ukiyo-e): Thanks for your rational and thoughtful post. Although I was never tempted to retire to a small town, I enjoyed reading it because it confirmed the reasons why I am content to live in a large city.
And for people who may be considering whether a small town would be right for them, there is nothing quite like someone who has been there, done that AND who has carefully considered the entire matter.
I live in an area of small town comprising a resort/retirement area and truly you either love it or hate it. Fortunately I love it. Many moving here want it to be just like "home" and are quite unhappy.
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