Just Another Writer

There have been many days when I wonder what on earth possessed me to move back to my hometown, which boasts a population of 30,000 and is situated precisely in the middle of nowhere. The thing is, however, I’ve come to realize that this is ultimately a good thing, even if this realization is a bit belated.

Here are five ways that living in the boondocks can be a good thing:

1. You are exposed to different world views. In the Big City, it was very easy to find friends who thought almost exactly like me. We would get together and talk about things that were important to us, but I have to say that not much real debate ever took place. Here in the boonies, it’s another story. Hardly anyone thinks the way that I do, so unless I want to become a different person (not an option, although some have tried it), I am forced to listen to other, sometimes very disagreeable, perspectives and be civil. Sometimes I see a point that I had never seen before. Other times, someone may see mine. Most of the time, we just agree to disagree, and appreciate each other for who we are. I like living in a place where worth isn’t tied to a political viewpoint, but rather, contribution to the community.

2. You may find yourself doing things you otherwise would never do. Last year, I went to a monster truck rally. While it’s not something that will become a hobby, it gives me another way to relate to some of my students. As I mentioned earlier, there are some cultural events here that are related to the university. What this means is that I will be watching an international jazz performance next month, and in April, will be seeing a Chinese dance troope. In the Big City, it is likely that I would have stayed in my groove of haunting the salsa clubs and not done much else.

3. You have to look beyond the ordinary. Maybe I’m beating the entertainment thing into the ground, but when the only movie theater has a cracked screen and only shows popular, but horrible movies, you have got to look elsewhere. What this means for me and many others is that alternative forms of entertainment have been created. We have a roller derby, and we can go and watch our friends break their noses while skating into other girls wearing skimpy clothing. We go geocaching, which is especially fun when you live in a wooded area with lots of historical places. However, this doesn’t work for everyone. People who cannot look beyond the ordinary find themselves spending Saturdays in the SuperWalmart for entertainment.

4. There is lots of natural beauty. I live in some apartments that are situated on a hill. Behind me is a pasture with a variety of cows, featuring a picturesque fence and some ancient ramshackle wooden buildings. The front looks down on a wooded area that has beautiful fall reds and oranges and is often covered with a coating of fog in the mornings. In the city, this would be a million dollar view. Even driving to work, I see historic houses, charming streams and huge trees.

5. You rethink what it means to be wealthy. How wealthy we perceive ourselves to be typically is based on an unconscious system of comparison. Where I live, a majority of people live below the poverty line. There are no neighborhoods full of mansions for me to envy. The apartments I live in would be quite ordinary in The Big City, but here, they are the best in town. Even being a teacher puts me near the top of the heap, unlike in the Big City, where teachers are perceived as being poor, and perhaps a bit stupid for not getting a better paying job. Moving here was a way to at least partially check out of the rat race and simply enjoy life.

It’s not all roses. There are many downsides to living in a small town. I’ll post about them later. Perhaps I should call this the Small Town series?