Why Smaller Towns Offer a Soothing Alternative to Urban Crowds and Noise: A Personal Experience

I grew up in the city and spent my early twenties working to get away from them. You see in cities, there are too many people, and they have to tune out a lot of sensory information or risk overload. They have to stop caring instinctively about others because there are just too many people in need.

And when you work, you go through grey morning cities and in winter leave your workplace after dark. Even small towns don’t suit me. I need open spaces, wildlife, and greenery. I don’t like people trying to sell me stuff all the time, which is what cities are really about if you get right down to it. After 25 years, I can tell you that I earned less money than I would have if I'd taken a city profession. But I lived in more beautiful places, so I can't complain.

Depending on the town, it could be crime or dealing with traffic. But if they have a job in a big town and want to live in a small town, the chances are still that there’s a struggle with traffic on expressways, especially depending on the shift they work.

Hell is Other People: An Insight from Jean-Paul Sartre

Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre. This quote profoundly captures the essence of urban life. I grew up in big cities and over my life, we moved to smaller and smaller towns. I still had to go to big cities at times for meetings. Every time I got into eight or ten lanes of traffic, I could feel my blood pressure rise. I HATED paying for parking and tolls, the noise, trash, and expenses of a city.

Discovering the Serenity of a Smaller Town

When I retired four years ago, we bought land in the St. Francois Mountains, part of the Ozarks in southeast Missouri, and built a house. My 3400 square feet, four-bedroom, three-bathroom house cost $250,000 to build. The same house would have cost over $800,000 in a big city. My backyard is 14,000 acres of national forest, and my front yard is 20,000 acres. It’s peaceful, quiet, and inexpensive, and I love it.

Visual Moments from My New Home

My House: A serene retreat in the middle of nature with views of the stunning Ozarks landscape. My Daughter in My Backyard: A photograph of my daughter enjoying the tranquility of the natural setting, capturing the peace of my new life. The Neighborhood: A glimpse of the neighborhood, within a couple of miles of my house, showing the simplicity and charm of the surrounding rural areas.

These visuals speak volumes about the transformation from urban life to a smaller town. The simplicity, peace, and beauty of the natural environment provide a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of city life. The cost savings are also a significant factor. A house that could have cost $800,000 in a big city is a mere $250,000 in a smaller town, allowing for the investment in a bigger, better home with the same or even more space.

Comparing City and Small Town Amenities

The comparison between city and small town amenities is stark. Cities offer a multitude of attractions, from museums and broad cultural events to shopping and entertainment venues. However, they are also characterized by their high living costs, noise, overcrowding, and the persistent need for people to manage their sensory overload and interactions with a myriad of others.

Small towns, on the other hand, offer a simpler, more peaceful way of life. The amenities in small towns are less flashy, but they are often more genuine and community-oriented. They offer a slower pace of life, which can be soothing for those who struggle with the city’s constant demands. In smaller towns, people can form deeper, more meaningful relationships, often knowing many of your neighbors by name and by experience.

The Benefits of Smaller Town Living

Smaller towns offer a multitude of benefits, including:

Natural Beauty: Unspoiled landscapes, forests, and wildlife that can be enjoyed in their natural state. This is a significant advantage, especially for those who value tranquility and nature over a city’s built environment. Community:strong> Closer-knit communities with a strong sense of togetherness and support, where everyone knows each other. Economic Freedom: The ability to invest a significant budget, as seen in the difference between $800,000 and $250,000, in a house with the same or even better living space. Lower Living Costs: Reduced expenses on living, entertainment, and transportation, making it easier to stretch your budget.

In conclusion, the draw of smaller town life lies in the ability to live a simpler, more peaceful life. The benefits, from natural beauty to community cohesion and economic freedom, cannot be overstated. If you are seeking a change that affords you more time, money, and peace, smaller towns may offer exactly what you need.