Small town

[clevermanka]

Somehow I can't see you as a Hoosier -- You're just too damn hip and funky. I always kinda figured you came outta Greenwich Village or some kinda smooth San Fran commune filled with hot Jazz and nightly dancing!

That's what one of my grad students said, when I told him congrats on a possible job offer in Indiana, and that was my home state.

I have no idea where people get the idea that I'm some hip, in-the-know culture goddess. Is it my hair? I have some original ideas about fashion and design, yes. I have fairly liberal views about social and civil rights. I have eclectic tastes in music. But what does any of that have to do with where one lives? Especially these days?

Some of my friends (I'm looking at you, tattooedartgirl and mechascorpio) who would absolutely perish if they had to leave their big city life. I completely understand the need to live in a metropolis, but I don't share the desire. I like living near a sizeable city, especially one with an airport (yes, I count Kansas City as "sizeable"). I like visiting big cities. But living in a big city? Not so much.

I enjoy walking around downtown, knowing there's a good chance I'll run into someone I know. I enjoy paying twenty-five cents for an hour and a half of metered parking (and the $1 ticket for going over my meter isn't so awful, either). I enjoy getting a good salon haircut for under $40. I enjoy the minimal pollution. I enjoy the glances I get from looking a little different, and the occasional comment from someone who tells me I have a great haircut. I enjoy passing general pleasantries with chatty grocery store cashiers.

Yes, there are lots of things I give up by living in a small town. And I understand that there are many small towns that aren't as nice. But always I'll take living in a nice small town over a great big city.

Comments

[curieuse.livejournal.com]

College towns strike a great balance, so often.

You belong here.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

You said it in far fewer words than I just did... yep, give me a college town any day. Note that I did choose to live here and give up a much better-paying job because I love Lawrence and what I do at the University.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I have lived in a big city (Seattle) and loved much of that experience: better access to stuff, more variety in potential friends, many more things to do, better pay and more jobs, and so on. In a big city, one can more quickly develop a group of friends or even drop in to an existing community of friends. If you need to buy something in the middle of the night, you have a pretty good chance of being able to do so. Society is a bit more open to the "other" and weirdoes because 1) you have to be in order to live near so many people, and 2) there are likely to be a lot of any given type of weirdo. And there's a lot less forced getting-along with folks because you don't have to tolerate those you don't like: Lots of fish in the sea.

On the other hand, the balance (for me) tips toward a small-city / big-town like Lawrence because of many factors: Negligible traffic, easy access to all parts of town, politeness and a general air of friendliness, cheaper everything, housing opportunities, darker skies (and quick access to truly dark skies), and a general sense of community. Even the bankers are on your side in a town like Lawrence!

But Lawrence isn't exactly a "small town." It is a university town, an entirely different creature. My experience has shown me that small towns suck: There's no getting away from people (much more so than in a town the size of Lawrence), jobs are scarce, they feel like prison, depression and hopelessness reign, and so on. To me, a university town is the perfect blend of big city and big town: You get most of the benefits of a city with few of the drawbacks of a town. Especially when said university town exists, as you say, near a city with an airport and all the other good city stuff.

(And no, I don't work for the City of Lawrence *g*)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

But Lawrence isn't exactly a "small town."

It isn't anymore, that's for sure. Our most recent city elections proved that without a doubt. Very sad.

Yes. College towns are a good balance.

This town will suck you in!

[pamelonian.livejournal.com]

It comes up in my classes (in Overland Park) that I live and Lawrence and commute. They always ask my why I don't move to the city. If they knew Lawrence like I knew Lawrence they wouldn't even have to ask...

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

Smaller towns and college towns are good IF you find your tribe there, for me C/U is a great small town but lawrence is not - even though to a demographic person they are almost identical towns in many ways. But without a tribe I would much rather be in a big city.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Shhh! You're giving away my alien roots!

And we have got to get together for drinks or something sometime. I miss you!

[mechascorpio.livejournal.com]

Pfft, I wouldn't perish. I can appreciate both the big city and college town style lives. I grew up in Columbus, Ohio and have always entertained the idea of retiring to a small town like Yellow Springs OH or Santa Fe. In fact, there are very few big cities that I would enjoy living in as much as I do San Francisco. Chicago probably, NYC maybe, Dallas no way. San Diego and Oakland are big cities, and I can't even describe the suckage of living there. It's the spirit of the place, not the population count.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

It's the spirit of the place, not the population count

Excellent, excellent point.

[tattooedartgirl.livejournal.com]

In defense, I don't think its fair to say I'd PERISH in a small town. I'm MUCH hardier than that!!! I just wouldn't like it very much.

I didn't grow in in the 'big city'. I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere and exactly 4.2 miles outside of a very small town, population about 223...And, as a matter of fact I grew up SO RURAL that our nearest neighbor was almost a mile away. I grew up so hillbilly, people don't believe me until they see where I grew up for themselves (ask Rob!)

I PREFER city life to rural life or even suburbia for numerous reasons-jobs, cultural opportunities, peoples attitudes,cultural diversity, tolerance of being "weird", etc and the ability to get around on foot. Since I don't drive so living someplace that doesn't have a good public transit system would never work for me. And I LOVE being able to walk home from anywhere in the city if need be.

In defense of San Francisco, I must say it IS a small city or a big town definately not a huge City like New York or Chicago or LA. I came out here from Columbus which is MUCH larger-Columbus is 220+ square miles to SF's eentsy widdle 47 square miles.

And while Rob my retire to Yellow Springs, my oldlady ass will be living in downtown Manhattan hee hee hee!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

In defense, I don't think its fair to say I'd PERISH in a small town. I'm MUCH hardier than that!!! I just wouldn't like it very much.

=D

[tattooedartgirl.livejournal.com]

HEE HEE HEE!

[mechascorpio.livejournal.com]

"I grew up so hillbilly, people don't believe me until they see where I grew up for themselves (ask Rob!)"

The town has its own soundtrack... "Dueling Banjos"

"And while Rob my retire to Yellow Springs, my oldlady ass will be living in downtown Manhattan hee hee hee!"

nice!