Making the Move to Small Town America

John Mellencamp and Alan Jackson sang about it. Thousands upon thousands of books are written about it, from mysteries to nonfiction. More and more families are making the move from Urban and big city America to small towns and rural communities. They are leaving behind the lives that they built in the city and opting for small town life, and not looking back.

For many families, the thought of leaving the city always there. Where they live now is just a stepping stone for the dreams they have always had, a better sense of community, peace and quiet, escape from the traffic jams and lost in a sea of strangers, a place to watch their children grow up, and a place to retire. For others, leaving the city life is a decision that is based on safety, health, well being, and economics.

Families move from larger cities to small communities for various reasons, such as the hope for less crime, cleaner air and water, a slower pace of life, knowing your neighbors, and feeling a stronger sense of community. It can be seen as a way to escape the fast paced life of the city or to feel more connected to the community and their neighbors. People that have left small towns to try out “big city” life have even stated that they moved back to the small town because the lifestyle couldn’t compare

When asked, many small town citizens said they wouldn’t trade the country or small town life when they have the daily possibility to experience wildlife and nature in all its beauty. Where else can you see ground squirrels feasting on a breakfast of berries from a wild blackberry bush, or a mother deer and her fawn taking an early morning walk without paying admission or fences? How about looking out your front window to a field freshly blanketed with the first snow of winter or sitting down to a dinner with fresh vegetables from your own garden? Likewise, they wouldn’t give up waking to songbirds and privacy for sirens, traffic, pollution, and neighbors living cheek to cheek. Many Parents report there is no replacing the amount of space and freedom the kids have to run, play and explore in compared to the busy city streets they came from. Other people have lived in small towns all their life and while they appreciate the city, they adamantly swear they wouldn’t give up the life they have for a move to the suburbs or city. Others claim that they don’t need the many conveniences of city life, that those conveniences further confuse life and make it more stressful.

Of course there is an adjustment to make from urban life to rural life. A trip to the convenience store that used to take 10 minutes, may now take you 20 and that is traveling one way. Commuting to and from work may take longer too but many people are willing to look past that, since Americans now spend over 100 hours a year traveling to work. That is more than the average American gets for vacation every year. Thankfully, technology has allowed many parents to telecommute to their jobs or work completely from home, thus saving them from a lengthy commute and daycare charges. Telecommuting and WAH careers are also welcome alternatives when you are snowed in and the plow can’t get up your hill or you simply want to be home and not stuck in traffic when the kids are coming home from school.

If you are really interested in living in a small town or rural community and are thinking of making the move, then make sure you have done your homework first (as with any major move). Check out the schools by going to a PTO meeting or two or even a school board meeting; this will help you determine if the school system meets your child’s educational needs. Talk to the neighbors; that nice older couple across the road seem wonderful but the Mrs. may know your comings and goings within two days and what sort of fabric softener you prefer. Attend a town meeting or two and you can learn about the taxes, the big challenges the town faces and you can meet your community leaders as well. Find out how far you are from the closest town, pharmacy, ATM or grocery. Imagine a sick child with a fever and the town grocery closed at 7pm. What are you going to do and do you know how to get to the hospital if you need it? Lastly and most importantly, research the house thoroughly to make sure there are no hidden surprises there as well. The last thing you want is to move to your dream home and live the life you have always wanted for you and your family only to find out you have chosen the money pit or you are down wind of the dairy farm up the road. If you have realistic expectations about making the move then leaving the city for small town life can be a rewarding move for the whole family.