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Abstract

n we are that age, we just don’t get it.It’s hard to imagine ever growing up and wanting the same things your parents had. Then it happens.<figure id="ed8d"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*duEWqgF5onIBfwaw"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Tim Mossholder</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure>Now that I am the same age my parents were when they moved to the suburbs, I now understand. The motivations for moving to a small town have become clear to me. The motivating factors are:<ul><li>Community</li><li>Ownership</li><li>Pride in my new hometown</li><li>Easier to raise children</li><li>Better environment to raise children</li><li>Better Schools (in this case)</li><li>Safety</li><li>Less Expensive</li><li>Overall impact</li><li>Room to breathe</li></ul>Some of these reasons may seem obvious, others may not. Let’s take overall impact, for example. It is very difficult to make an impact in a city like Los Angeles. It is a huge town, and it has already been done before. It is much easier to make an impact in Saline, Michigan (where I went to high school. Pop. 9,251). My parents moved to Saline back in the late 90’s. EVERYONE knows who they are. They are well known at church, the grocery store, the pubs, and everywhere in between. Their impact has been strong on the community, and they built it from scratch. The possibility of doing the same is very motivating for me.However, I

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want to do this in my new hometown, not theirs. This is where the ownership piece comes in. I want this town to be mine. This may sound a bit selfish, but I assure you it’s not. I am motivated to scout out a new town, buy a home, and begin making an impact. I want to take pride in my town and feel like I’ve changed it for the better.<h1 id="cb83">Raising Kids in a Small Town</h1><figure id="d459"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*EWwWVi-OxV6aNY36"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@neonbrand?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">NeONBRAND</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="2e53">The main reason for most of us.</h2>If we could live by ourselves or with our significant other alone forever, we’d probably stay in the city. However, it is hard to argue the fact that raising children is easier in the suburbs.I imagine myself coaching a little league baseball team.I imagine taking the kids out for ice cream after a game.I imagine the kids hanging out with each other and building lifelong friendships.I can’t, however, imagine doing this in the big city. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but less feasible. Small towns are built around small-town values. Big cities have different priorities.Your priorities change over time. This is natural. The things you used to desire no longer seem important. The things you now desire, seemed laughable just a short time ago.</article></body>

Moving to a Small Town

On Purpose

“Why would anyone ever want to live here?”

“It’s so boring, there’s nothing to do.”

“You moved here on purpose?”

Sound familiar? Does this sound like someone else?…or did this sound like you?

I’m 34 years old and just got married. I am ready to have kids and settle down. Eeeeeeek! Those scary words…settle down. Many of us try to avoid it, but most of us succumb to it.

…and I want to

This includes wanting to move out of the big city and into small-town life.

When we are in High School, we think about leaving our small town in the dust. We are ready for the big city or campus. We want to see what’s out there and explore. We’ve been cooped up in this small town life for too long, we’ve outgrown it.

Or so we thought…

The true reason we wanted to leave our small towns is because we didn’t create our own lives there, our parents did. You don’t feel true ownership in this situation. Everything feels like it’s forced upon us. That is the rebellious nature of adolescence. When we are that age, we just don’t get it.

It’s hard to imagine ever growing up and wanting the same things your parents had. Then it happens.

Now that I am the same age my parents were when they moved to the suburbs, I now understand. The motivations for moving to a small town have become clear to me. The motivating factors are:

Community
Ownership
Pride in my new hometown
Easier to raise children
Better environment to raise children
Better Schools (in this case)
Safety
Less Expensive
Overall impact
Room to breathe

Some of these reasons may seem obvious, others may not. Let’s take overall impact, for example. It is very difficult to make an impact in a city like Los Angeles. It is a huge town, and it has already been done before. It is much easier to make an impact in Saline, Michigan (where I went to high school. Pop. 9,251). My parents moved to Saline back in the late 90’s. EVERYONE knows who they are. They are well known at church, the grocery store, the pubs, and everywhere in between. Their impact has been strong on the community, and they built it from scratch. The possibility of doing the same is very motivating for me.

However, I want to do this in my new hometown, not theirs. This is where the ownership piece comes in. I want this town to be mine. This may sound a bit selfish, but I assure you it’s not. I am motivated to scout out a new town, buy a home, and begin making an impact. I want to take pride in my town and feel like I’ve changed it for the better.

Raising Kids in a Small Town

The main reason for most of us.

If we could live by ourselves or with our significant other alone forever, we’d probably stay in the city. However, it is hard to argue the fact that raising children is easier in the suburbs.

I imagine myself coaching a little league baseball team.

I imagine taking the kids out for ice cream after a game.

I imagine the kids hanging out with each other and building lifelong friendships.

I can’t, however, imagine doing this in the big city. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but less feasible. Small towns are built around small-town values. Big cities have different priorities.

Your priorities change over time. This is natural. The things you used to desire no longer seem important. The things you now desire, seemed laughable just a short time ago.