Hey, g/f!!

I'm slowly catching up with posts on PC and was wondering how you were adjusting to small town life. I'm not the best person for this topic as I'm also a "city gal." You should have heard me wailing when I moved from Orlando (where I had lived since 1977) only 25 miles away for a new job!! After 3 months on the job and doing the daily Interstate jungle, I opted to move closer to work, so it was my decision to do so, but I just knew how much I was going to miss Orlando.

See, even living in the City of Orlando, I had many of the benefits I've seen posted of living in a small town: people know them, being recognized in various businesses, etc. I went to "my grocery store" and "my pharmacy." I think I was known by name at Taco Bell restaurants in three counties.

The new town I moved to is considered one of the new "chic" places to live and is growing rapidly. Even though a smaller town...it's pace was more frenetic than Orlando. But, I settled in and "established myself" in a new grocery store with a pharmacy...and this pharmacy is so cool - when I walk in, they just pull my prescriptions, don't even ask my name...lol. And, I could drive the 25 miles and go into Orlando if I wanted. Basically ended up just going back for Dr. and dentist appointments.

THEN, after living in the new town for 2 years, the rent went skyhigh so I had to find a less expensive apt. I moved again to where I am now. It is only 5 miles from my second place but seems WORLDS away. It is an old, historic, Southern town that has been around EONS before the previous town. When I lived in Orlando, I considered it a bit on the redneck side (only having passed through it maybe a few times) unbeknownst I'd EVER be living here.

Now I LOVE IT!! I find I have no desire to go to Orlando now (except for the medical visits) and am enjoying the quiet, calm here. My favorite thing is that, although it is the smallest town in the county, it is the county seat, so all the state offices: driver's license and tag offices, county medical facilities, courthouse, etc. are like 1/4 mile away. The "main street" looks like Mayberry and is becoming known for its antique shops. The irony is that people from Orlando now drive here to have a quiet weekend and/or go antiquing.

So...my opinion, the best of both worlds is a small town for convience, but close enough, not necessarily to a large city, but a town within easy driving distance that "fills in" other needed shopping, etc. When I need those, I go the "big 5 miles" back to the second town.

Hopefully that was supportive in two ways: TOTALLY with you on being a city girl; but have found features of small-town living that I really enjoy.

**Continuing to read...**

{{{{{CandyBear}}}}}