by Alexander Mark

Created on: August 17, 2008   Last Updated: August 26, 2008

Small towns conjure up images of Mayberry, an idyllic state of living where all problems can easily be solved and major crisis only come once in a blue moon. But living in a small town far from a big metropolis truly can offer great advantages over the rapid paced, stress inducing city life. When I say small town, in the context of "rural living," I mean a population of a thousand people or less, spread out over a distance of fifty square miles. For the peace seeker, this situation is ideal, because you can choose to get to know your neighbors, or keep to yourself.

Getting to know people in a rural community is another one of the benefits of moving out of the city. Small town people move at a slower pace, and are more in tune with nature because there is no mechanical / industrial complex driving them. Because of this, they are more apt to be friendly to one another. For the societal hermit, acceptance may be easier to find. For the family, you are more likely to find and form lifelong friendships based not on what you do, but on who you are.
The cost of living is lower, and that trade off is the very reason that living in a rural area is cheaper: the lack of available employment. But if you save up your money and plan ahead, the move out of the big city can be done, and is well worth it. People who live closer to the natural realm, find themselves much richer than when they had money to spend on anything they wanted. In these sorts of places, you'll find a neighbor who sells wholesome natural eggs. Another neighbor sells tomatoes and other vegetables. Don't forget the old man down the road who sells goat milk. Your options are not limited, they are different, and they are healthier.
Crime in a rural area is reduced as the hustle and bustle of large cities draw opportunists more readily than a sleepy rural community will. That translates into safety for you and your children.
In small towns, government officials and public service individuals are more likely to wear many different hats of service, and your children's school teacher may rush off to the local fire station to handle an emergency. What this means is that you will enjoy a tighter knit community more concerned for the welfare of others than city or corporate employees who want to climb the ladder of success and who are more apt to step on you than lend a helping hand.
Do I need to mention the virtues of clean air and being surrounded by nature instead of steel? Virtually pollution free, rural areas

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