I think that's a very interesting question, Nicker, and I look forward to hearing what everyone else says. For me? I live on the beach, in a resort area. Off season, it's like a small town, very comfy. In season, it's total chaos and by August, we're all crashing and burning, lol. It's not corporate, if you know what I mean. Most folks here work for themselves (and work hard), and that makes for a kinship that's kinda nice. And, in looking back, I got support because folks knew what was involved with me running the business by myself. The downside is - there are no meetup groups, like in a big city. Still - it's ok. Marsha

I live just outside of a resort lake front community.in a rural area. Like Marsha, there are a lot of self employed people here. One bad thing here is everyone knows everybody's business. My nearest neighbors are elderly and not friendly, but I have enough to keep me busy with my own business.

Maggie

I live in a small town of about 22,000. I live about 2 hours from Louisville Kentucky which is a large metropolitan area. Due to my job, I had to learn to drive in Louisville which has been a big asset for me now that I'm on my own.

We have a nice selection of restaurants, but the sad thing is that most industry has left our town and we have a lot of restaurants, gas stations, and banks. We have a lot of low income people who live here and the standard of living is not very high, but this is home and this is where I plan on staying for the rest of my life. I have one of the few good jobs and I retire in 9 years.

Nessie from KY

I live in the suburbs in a city and have wonderful neighbors who we've known for years - bought our home in 92. My husband was way more social with the neighbors than I was, always chatting with people when he was outside, where I am always running late and trying to get out of there before someone stops me to talk. One time I went to a garage sale around the corner from us, bought some large planters that wouldn't fit in my Miata, and said, I live right there, can I come back for them? She said, "Oh! You mean in Bill's house?" We'd been here at least 15 years at that time. Made me laugh then and still makes me smile.
I commute to a small Western Heritage town with a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains, of about 19,000 people to work each day and the people here have been wonderful too. There are lots of resources, meetups etc. but I have no spare time with running my business. My dream is to live in the country again. :)

Hello,

I live in Minneapolis, MN very large city, have all my life. Would love to move up north to the lake but that now is just a dream. I work full time and am raising two kids, Son-Senior in high school and a child with Down Syndrome who is now attending the adult day program. I would love to move to the lake but there are really not a lot of things, programs way up there for her so I must stay in the city for now, Some day I hope ;)
Laurie

I was born and raised in city by charter but more like a small town. Large in area but lacking in businesses at this time. Our city was molded around an IBM manufacturing plant that closed and left us with little resources to fall back on. Called poor planning!!

We have normal city services like hospitals, churches, and the like, but certainly not a city feel. I'm in NY half way between New York City and Albany so easy access to a lot but not dwelling in either. Beautiful countryside on the Hudson River and 4 seasons which is great. I love it here except for the taxes, but its friendly yet offers solitude. Sharon

Born and raised in Milwaukee , WI now live in a suburb about 20 miles from town.
Russ

Interesting.. Born in Brooklyn, and raised in queens, NY. Just moved to a retirement community right before my husband passed. A nice beach town in Florida! Here I will stay.

Born and raised on a farm in Ohio. Met my wife in 1968 married in 1972 and moved to SW Florida in 1995. Donna passed in 2012.

I live in the house I grew up in. My mother died in 2004. Kevin came home to me in 2005 and we moved out here from the city. I loved much of city living. But there is nothing better than being in the house I grew up in and the house kevin and I loved and lived in all our married life. The town had 7000 people when I was in high school but now has 10 times that many. It is literally larger through annexation. Businesses are more diverse wheras we were considered a cross between a rural area and a bedroom community with most people working at alrge corporations in st louis cointy on the other side of the river. Now we are partly a suburb on our own, but still have a lot of local business developmemt.

I live on an 80 acre farm in Idaho with our town having 800 people in it. Moved here 7 years ago when my husband retired to be near our grandkids. My daughter lives down the road a quarter of a mile and my parents live right next to me. Unfortunately we had been so busy getting our farm up and running and moving our families in that we hadn't made many friends before my husband got sick. That makes me a bit lonely since I have no one to do things with and in our rural area there are no groups to join. At least not that I am aware of anyhow.

I was born and raised in a large city. My husband and I planned on retiring to the country and pretty much had everything done with our house. I finally made the decision to make the move to the country and did so in February. The downside is I am having to learn to deal with mice, snakes and my dog was sprayed by a skunk. The upside is walking out on the porch at night and seeing what looks like millions of stars and the wonderful memories I have of the times spent here with my best friend and soulmate.

Hi,
Live in a university town. lots of activities and classes through the two colleges. Not too far from beach area, about ten miles, Mountains about 11/2 hours. Good weather year round!

Raised in Rochester, NY and still live here. In Da'Hood as I "fondly" call it...urban america at its best lol. It has its bad & good points. I love living in western NY...all four seasons, none too awful...except this last winter that went on forever. But I do love it regardless

Tornado alley for me ;) I live in a small but fast growing town. I will say I went through and still am grieving in denial a lot of the time thinking if I ignored it it would go away on its own (it doesn't) eventually you have to feel, live it to be able to survive it. I work partime which is my life saver wish I could work forever I do not like to be idle as the devil tries to take over! I have severe depression and going through the grieving process while already depressed was a challenge but I survived and I am ok not happily ever after okay but I am okay and I will settle for that!