I'm living out a childhood fantasy. Our house is in a historic district of a small town that I used to read about in storybooks. - Patty Duke

Small town living. Is there anything like it? I feel as if I'm living in a storybook, like the "At Home in Mitford" series. Dad's the pastor. Mom's retired. I'm the troubled adult-child. We have dogs. We have a cat. We live a block away from each other.

People drive their golf carts around town like you would a car in the city. I've seen more lawn mowers on the street than cars. People walk or ride their bicycles to the post office. (I drive)

Everybody knows everything about everybody else....and it's all usually wrong.

My neighbors know when I come & go or if I leave a light on in the basement.

There are numerous groups that meet for coffee in various places at various times of the day. My parents go to 6:30 coffee at the Bakery and 3:00 coffee at McDonald's.  It's like little support groups all over town at different times of the day.

It's the quintessential small American town. I call it a hamlet. My little abode fits in perfectly and the work we're doing on it is only making  it better.  

I love my little house. I love the porches. I love the porch swing. I love the flowers. I love the leaded glass windows. I love the hardwood floors. I love the peace & quiet, especially.

Small town living - nothing can beat it.

Oh wait, but I miss all the restaurants. I miss running to the grocery store two blocks away instead of 15 miles away. I miss the amount of jobs available. I miss my friends. I miss that work was only minutes away. I mostly miss being able to eat out at a restaurant of my choosing.

I miss food.