Since I was three years old, I have lived in a small town. Not only is it a small town, but it has the typical small town name: Niceville. Yes, that's right. Niceville. Yes, it is nice here. Yes, the people are nice. No need to ask for the thousandth time! We don't have a mall, we don't have a movie theater and we don't have a bowling alley. The most exciting thing that has happened lately was the opening of Chick-Fil-A. From kindergarten to high school graduation, I pretty much grew up with the same core group of kids. There is not a whole lot to do, but you learn to create lasting relationships, see the beauty of where you live and make the most of what's around you. This could be a good thing but also a bad thing. In fact, there are many pros and cons to living in such a small town.
One huge pro of living in a small town is that you know just about everyone. If you are ever in need or in a predicament and you need help, you will be able to find or call someone who may be near you. Help is always just around the corner! No matter what your circumstance is there is always someone in your town who may know you and could help you. Another pro to living in a small town is that there are fewer activities to do. This doesn't sound so positive, but you are freer to do whatever you want. As there are not many places to go and hang out or socialize, you may have more time to pick up a hobby and / or learn a new skill and become proficient at it. Also, you can do more outdoor activities than any normal or large-scale city because of the low crime rates and safety of the town. In fact, Niceville was just recently named one of the safest places to live in all of Florida! With the largest Air Force base in the country located in this area and low crime rates, we almost live in our own utopian society enclosed by a bubble. I have enjoyed living in a small town like Niceville all of my life and I could not have imagined being in any other city.
As much as knowing everyone in your town can be a good thing, it can also be a bad thing. My sister was once driving across the Mid-Bay Bridge into Destin and she was going slightly over the speed limit (she had just gotten her license.) A friend of my parents had seen her driving when he was driving the opposite direction back over the bridge. He then called my dad to tell him what was happening and that she was speeding. Since being in a small town means you know everyone, you must always be on your toes (even if you are not doing anything wrong or illegal...) Also, there isn't a great deal of progress in a small town. New stores, neighborhoods, infrastructure and the like are slow in coming. Like I said earlier, we recently got a Chick-Fil-A and actually a Publix, too, but not much else beyond that. If you are interested in bowling, shopping, seeing a movie or going to a big chain restaurant, you have to drive over the bridge to Destin. This requires paying a toll and getting caught in tourist traffic. This, to many, is a huge negative. I, however, like the fact that I can go into the "bigger city" if I want to, but can then come home to my small town. We have little traffic here, and after traveling to many big cities in my life, I definitely don't want to live in a high-traffic city. Additionally, like many big cities, there is public transportation, but in a small town, there is none. This can hurt a lot of people who may not have a car or may be unable to drive. But, let's go back to the fact that everyone knows everyone and I am sure there are plenty of people who would help out and give someone a ride.
All in all, living in a small town is an experience everyone should go through. Whether you were born in a small town, you plan to start a family or you just want to be away from the busy life, a small town is a perfect fit. As always, you must consider the pros and cons, positives and negatives, and the if's and but's. With all the stresses and crime in the world, a small town can be a quieter and safer place to live. You can make a lot of lifelong friends and you will learn a lot about yourself. And you will never forget where you came from.
