Growing up in a small town shaped my life in more ways than I can imagine. The rural life is slowly but surely becoming a thing of the past as more of the country becomes developed and urban life takes over. As a kid, I could not even imagine not living in the middle of farmland or even having neighbors whose houses I could see into. Although many people may scoff at the individuals who still desire to live in a rural environment, there is no better way to grow up than with a small town hometown.
1. Everyone knows each other.
If you grow up in a small town, chances are you pretty much know everyone or a cousin of everyone so there is literally no such thing as a stranger. Get in trouble at school? Your teacher will see your parents at the next sporting event and be sure to tell them all about it, no need for calling home. Trying to keep something on the down low? Not possible. Chances are everyone knows all your secrets, so why try to hide anything?
2. Everyone and everything is far away.
Who knew you had to plan trips to the grocery store? Small town people do. If the country store doesn’t have what you need, you’ll have to wait until Friday’s grocery trip to justify driving so far away to get it. Did I mention that all your friends live miles apart? Hopefully your bike has good tires because that’s the only way you’re getting anywhere if you have no license.
3. Everyone learns hard work.
Growing up in a small town typically means that not everyone has a lot of money. At a young age kids learn real quick that if you want to earn some cash, you need to find a job, but your choices are slim. Option one is to work on a farm and option two is to babysit for you neighbors, both of which are difficult and involve coming home smelling bad.
4. Everyone knows breakups are awkward.
Growing up in a small town is great, until you realize the local dating options are slim. Now factor in breakups. Hopefully you and your not-so-significant other end on good terms or else seeing them at the gas station everyday is going to get real awkward real fast.
5. Everyone has your back.
Growing up in a small town gives you the best support system ever. Every big game, every triumphant moment of your life has the biggest cheerleading squad. In small towns, people support each other and build you up like no one else can understand. What other town gives you a parade for making it to states in a sports competition?
6. Everyone has a person.
No matter what age, everyone knows someone that will be their friend for life, your person. When you know someone since the first day of preschool it is hard not to end up being friends for life, since you’ve literally known them your whole life. In some cases, if you’re really lucky, you get to marry that person and live happily ever after with five kids and a dog, even though I’m still waiting for the kids.
7. Everyone misses it.
If you are the one individual that “gets out” when you turn 18, chances are you’re going to miss your hometown. The beautiful, slow-paced life that only small town living has to offer is one of the greatest ways to live. And if you do “get out,” you’ll probably end up right back where you started when you have seen that the world doesn’t have much to offer in comparison to your small hometown.
Small town life is not for everyone, but if you’re one of the lucky people who has gotten to experience growing up in a small town, then chances are you know nothing else can compare to it. No matter how far away you may go, you’ll always have a place to go back to.
