happy monday! hope everyone had a great weekend. i’m in nyc for a work event this week, and boy oh boy are we busy! this city really doesn’t sleep. it actually got me thinking about all the things i love about living in a small town. now, let me paint the picture for you. i live in a town of slightly over a thousand-ish people. there are a couple gas stations, a few restaurants, a town bank, post office, and small grocery store. i work in downtown minneapolis, which means i work with people that live in much bigger suburbs and quite often get the reaction of “you live where?!” or “howard what?” that’s when i launch into my speech about why i live there, and where exactly on the map of minnesota it is [“yeah, wayzata? that’s my halfway point”].
but really, why do i live so far out? there really are very few conveniences. my nearest target is 20+ minutes away. there are a couple KEY reasons i choose to live in a small town.
i grew up in a small town, and the kind of community i grew up in is something i want for myself and my family. everyone knows everyone. and to some, that’s something they don’t like. me? i’m comfortable and happy with who i am, so if everyone knows me, that’s fine. i like being able to go for a walk with my daughter and husband and stop and talk to our neighbors and keep up with their lives. walking into a volleyball game and having a guy i vaguely recognize go “hey, you’re the lady that walks around the lake in the morning!” and make a new friend? i’m all for that.
it’s easy to see the contributions you make. whether it’s time, money, or your talents, you are more likely to see the direct benefits of your inputs. one of my goals is to be on the school board and use my skill sets to benefit the students and school community. while a smaller school district might not have the resources of that of a large district, it’s easy to see where i can contribute.
it’s a forever kind of place. i’m not worried about what school to send my kid to; i know she will grow up a laker. the thought of moving elsewhere isn’t even a thought that crosses my mind, and that’s a kind of peace i have. i can see myself here, in the community, for the long haul.
the camaraderie and connection. if you meet someone who knows where you are from, you are INSTANT friends. for real, if someone goes “oh, howard lake!” knowingly, i instantly know we are going to get along.
it’s beautiful. i leave the city every night and drive past miles and miles of your quintessential corn fields, typically with a beautiful sunset and [this time of year] leaves turning. you can’t beat it; it’s everything there is to love about small-town minnesota.
the people are just NICE. now, i’m not saying that people aren’t nice everywhere, because i truly believe there are good people all over. but the people in the town i live in are legitimately good humans, and i love living there because of them.
i think i’ve mentioned it before, but i think i have the best setup ever. i get to work in the hustle and bustle of one of america’s best kept secrets, minneapolis, and live in a beautiful little town with people that are what make it the great place it is. i’m truly lucky.
what about you? i’d love to know more about where you are from! big city or small town? comment below or on my latest insta!
Love love love these comments and couldn’t agree more. As a kid – a small town is often a place you can’t wait to escape because everyone knows your business. As a parent it’s one of those mystical, magical places you can’t wait to move back to because everyone knows your business – and looks out for one another. Get the day to day excitement of a navigable “big city” and the heartwarming “life didn’t get better than this” chance to be around family and friends nights – weekends – and holidays! ❤️😍💋
You’ve got my vote for School Board, Kelsey. And the sooner the better! :>
thanks rhonda! i really appreciate it 🙂