my definition of "city" may differ from yours. mine is if it has more than two stop lights, two service stations and one grocery store it is a city. went from my little town to southhaven, ms twice this weekend. once from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening. spent the night at my sister's house in southeast Memphis. went back sunday morning and home again late sunday afternoon. grandson played in a little league tournament at the nicest baseball complex I have ever seen in southhaven, ms. covered bleachers, bull pens at each of the17 fields. major league type dugouts and of course over priced food and drink. had an early dinner sunday at a great Italian restaurant called Lonnie Tant's in southhaven. as good Italian food as I've had outside of Italy. still don't like cities but I don't miss my grandson playing baseball. lee

Cities are god-awful places. Only if a city really has something to offer will I visit one.

Washington, DC Museums, memorials, monuments, Nat. Gallery of Art, and a lot of history.

NYC - Museums, art galleries galore, great food, plays.

Other than this both cities stink and I hate them.

So's Merle Haggard: Merle Haggard Big City - YouTube

That sounds like my extended family in Iowa. They put two lights in their town because of the "traffic" and the locals were still muttering about it 5 years later. They get baffled when visiting Las Vegas because the metropolitan sprawl here is likely bigger than their county. They think I'm pulling their leg when we drive somewhere for twenty minutes and they find out they are still in the same city.

Cites are not a good place to be and only going to get worse in the days ahead.

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LEX ET ORDO

My daughter lives in NYC when we visit my wife loves to go to "Time Square". People run up and down subway stairs, run up and down sidewalks with the attitude of the elite.
Then they retire and move out here where I am to get some rest from all that running.

in the big city i always think somebody is watching u or ur car so they can steal something. always keeping aware of my surroundings. when i get home i sleep good because my mind is at ease

I don't like any place where I can't walk into a bookstore and buy a serious history book.

I lived in Fremont, Ohio in the '90s. Any time I wanted to buy a book, I had to drive to Cleveland or Toledo. For me, that's the essence of pure misery.

With respect, we all have places where we feel most comfortable. I've always lived in the rural countryside as I have for most my life pastored small/medium sized rural churches. I enjoy being able to simply get out and meet people, visit, and even go hunting/shooting w/o any real problems.

I have children who live in major cities in the eastern U.S. I visit them as often as possible. I like the places where they live. One is outside of Atlanta. The other is in Manhattan. Where they live hunting and fishing, shooting, etc. are no possible. If you want to go shooting, you must go to a indoor range. Where they live prices for anything and everything are higher than what I'm used to. But, they make more money that I'm used to making. Guess it balances out.

Cities are where the opportunities are. That's where the schools and colleges and universities are located. That's where the jobs are found. It is understandable why. That's where the people are. IIRC, prior to about 1950 60-70% of the U.S. population lived on farms. As the American economy changed, people left the farms and headed for the factories, etc. in the cities. That's where the jobs were. Nowadays the overwhelming majority of people live in the cities. Sadly there just few opportunities in rural areas.

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<><

Depends on what your definition of "opportunities" is and what your priorities are. As you say, different people prefer different lifestyles. I live out in the country, in a basically rural county. I have a nice pond, some woodland, a garden, a few chickens, and I can walk out my back door and shoot all I want. I understand that I won't earn as much money as I could traveling or living in a city, but that's a compromise I'm willing to make.

I see people on several forums talking about their high-paying, high-stress jobs, and their dream is often to make enough money to retire to some acreage in the country, so they can have a garden and some chickens, and enjoy the peace and quiet. It seems to me that I'm already living the lifestyle they're dreaming about and killing themselves to get to.

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Illegitimus Non Carborundum

The borough, in a farming community, I live near today pretty much meets the OP's definition of a "small town". No red lights but one stop sign in the "down town" city center, two service stations, but no grocery stores. It covers about 2 square miles and has a population of around 700 on a good day.

When I was growing up, it pretty much resembled Mayberry--population of about 500, everyone knows everyone on a first name basis and everyone pretty much knew everyone's business, had it own school; grades 1 thru 4 in the same class room, and when I graduated we had the biggest graduation class ever 19. Everyone was a hunter and at age 16 I can remember walking along one the main streets with a shotgun [to get to the area I going to hunt] during hunting season and no one gave it a second thought, target practiced out in the back yard, and as kid would hop the freight train for a ride the other side of town.

It's a shame that the place changed into the CITY it is today population of 700 people, large rural type school district where the kids are bused for miles to a large school system. I guess the old saying "You can never go home again," is true, things and you change and you can never recapture the past.

After being drafted and serving my military time I returned home and bought a rural home well outside of the city limits and still the enjoy pace small town living.

Tell me about it, we have to put up with them all summer, they come in droves, and every house that goes up for sale is bought by someone from NY or NJ, then they think they own the town, we had one guy come to a town meeting, he wants to stop boats from going by his house, he thinks he own's the ocean, everyone at the meeting were laughing so hard, they were falling off their chairs.

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Don

I LOVE cities. Or course they have their own problems but I generally love the atmosphere. I love going out, different bars, restaurants, neighborhoods. The fact that I can get Italian food if I make a left, Greek if I make a right or Indian if I go straight.

I can't do little towns or rural communities. It's nice, the quietness is a good change but it will drive me bonkers after a few days. Nothing to do. I go camping in a rural community a few times a year and as much as I like the fresh air of the forest and the quiet i have my fill after a day or two. It's like we'll I've been sitting here for a day and a half what to do now? Sit some more? No thanks! As far as people go, in the city, I just don't pay attention to them. I don't need to acknowledge everyone. I don't see it as rude just everyone is doing their own thing

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Lee, I don't care for them much either, I was stationed in D.C. long ago, LA too, then NOLA. Shook the dust off my boots and went very rural in Central America. Took me two years down there to get over those three cities.... Then I moved to semi rural Australia.

Mrs. OTM and I returned (from Australia) to my little home town(3,800 pop.) 15 years ago. City fathers just installed the third stoplight, and that drove a few of the natives off the island. The best thing about this place is that it comes with a moat, and a pretty reliable source of fresh fish. 10 miles to the nearest WalMart and Tractor Supply.

A lot of natives left to much smaller (2-300 pop.) towns on the mainland, but recently the Eagle Ford oil play has turned their quiet countryside into a heavy construction and tank truck zone with mini compressor stations and bright lights 24/7.

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Halfway and one more step

it wasn't too long ago, that Southaven would have qualified as a "small town" to you. Same with Olive Branch (where I live). The "memphis flight" has swelled NorthMS small towns, almost to its breaking point.

Pinky ring, crooked nose, surrounded by a bunch of pensive guys with sunglasses?

I'm in the middle. I'm a suburbanite. When I was little, we lived in the country. There was a vast pasture behind our front yard. We were the first house on the street. Now, at the same location, the pasture is long gone, developed back when I was a teenager. I like to travel to big cities, especially ones I haven't been to before. I like the culture centers and things to see and do. I love going to the country, to witness nature's wonders and beautiful forests and waters. So, I guess that just makes me human, huh?

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

We used to live in the Washington DC area about 4 miles from Crystal City. I sold Toyota parts and my wife worked in an office near the Pentagon as a Government contractor.
The day after 911 I dropped my wife off in a cloud of smoke coming off the Pentagon and I went to work selling parts to crackheads, bureaurcrats and terrorists. Then back to our overpriced tiny apartment with endless cockroaches and people screaming at eachother and banging around all night.
We had a seasonal campsite in the mountains of West Virginia near a quiet little town that we spent our weekends at to get away from the craziness and after 911 we decided to pull up roots and head to West Virginia.
We found a brick house with oak floor and trim, a full basement, finished attic and detached garage. The street number was the same as our campsite number. We'd been saving up to buy a house.
My wife said, "call the realtor and if it's under $50,000 we can swing it right now." I thought, "Yeah right, a nice, solid brick house for under $50,000." I called and the realtor told me $49,900. Okay message recieved and understood.
We bought the house and moved. Finding work was no problem, the local temp agency put us to work right away at temp to hire jobs working at area factories and warehouses.
Living in a small West Virginia town took some gettin' used to. There's no pizza delivery or Chinese take out. There's no fast food of any kind. Ya need to learn how to stock up and be self sufficient. We have 3 refrigerators, 2 freezers and quickly discovered that power outages are not uncommon here and sometimes last up to a week at a time. That makes a backup generator a necessity. We got a Dollar General store right here in town a couple of years ago so we can pick up some groceries and stuff occasionally. People out here wave to ya and not with their middle fingers.
Now I'm on disability and my wife works as a home health care aid right here in town walking from client to client.
It's quiet and peaceful here. There also lots of hiking and biking trails, rivers, streams and camping areas.
We're members at a local resort that I go to for physical therapy. They had a "Spring Break" party there last weekend with $1 keg beer, a live band and a wet t shirt contest around the indoor pool. Things got kinda wild and lotsa skin was exposed. Some of the people in the hot tub and sauna got very friendly with one another.
We'd never go back to the big city, best move we ever made.

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Keep on Chooglin'

Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic;
but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.
WJ Bryan

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Georgia On My Mind

We live in the country and have worked in the big city but the commute was worth while as home was our refuge. Now I'm retired and my wife is in the process of changing jobs to a smaller, slower paced city.
She wants to see DC and NYC and will likely do that some day but big cities make me uncomfortable especially the ones that won't allow me to exercise my second amendment rights. We went to Chicago once and was okay but once was enough for me.

I live in a County with no stop lights and two flashing lights. I won't live in town even though the population there is less than 1000. Maybe when I am in a rest home. I will visit and work in them but 3-4 days a week makes me long for the hills.

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Front sight and squeeze

As I was saying just the other day:

lee marvin-the first thing you know - YouTube

X2.

I am 75 years old, I have lived in the country all but 6 years of the 75. If they ever make me live in town I'll probably be arrested for lewd behavior or discharging a firearm within city limits. Old habits would be hard to break.

Living on a gravel road keeps the riff raff away.

Me neither...

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NULLI SECUNDUS

I don't know a lot about Southhaven, but don't judge all cities by using Memphis as a standard. It is a cesspool.


To do so would be the equivalent of likening all women to Roseanne Barr.

Same for me. I live about 40 miles SW of the center of Atlanta in a 'semi-rural' suburbia. I don't go to ATL except to the airport on the south side to catch a plane or dropoff/pickup someone. If I could afford to move 40 miles further south, I would.

Cities.....keep 'em. My wife and I moved to GA from a small group of villages/towns in rural MN. We now live 40-plus miles NE of Atlanta. We live in a gated-community of 1500 residents in a semi-rural area. We live here in our retirement to be close to our two adult sons. If we need to go into the metro-area, one of our sons is tasked with the driving, as both drive in the metro alot for their work. We much prefer driving ourselves 40-miles to the NE to socialize and explore the small communities there. We have plans to sell the current home and move to one of those one stop-light communities. Give us the more rural life....

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GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

It IS getting to be too much - even out here!
I drove the 30 miles to my BIL's yesterday and saw 4 other cars on the road - F O U R !
Traffic here is getting to look like Atlanta!

I sure miss the GoodOldDays when you MIGHT see 2 cars on that same trip.....

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In dog years I'm dead.

Cities? Ughh. It's not that people are bad, but trees make far better neighbors. Not to mention the crime in U.S. cities.

Reading some of the responses here and descriptions of places, it surprises me that some of you guys can even get internet connection

Country and city both have their good and bad. When I was younger I liked the excitement of getting out of my town and just being around people and the noise and lights of cities. The older I get that stuff makes me irritable. I'm finding that having space and fresh air are good for sanity and peace of mind.

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Ephesians 6 (Armor of God)

Once went into an ally in Memphis. I was handsomely rewarded with the best (bar none) dry ribs ...at the Rendevouz. I wonder if it is still there?


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So - we're back to Google is your friend
They're not only still there - They'll send food right to your house

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In dog years I'm dead.

Really. They ship! Now I do have to Google it. I stayed at that hotel with the ducks in the lobby. Is that still there too?


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Used to live in Phoenix. Best definition I ever heard: "150 shopping centers in search of a city."

Lee, the park is less than 10 minutes from my house! It's not for everyone but sure makes the work commute easier. Should see the large pizza Lonnie makes. Hard to fit in most SUV's

I love the smell of pig manure in the morning.
I live in the country and love going into the city to play in the casino, or catch the Indians or Browns, or take my wife on an overnight trip. But I love being able to leave it all behind when I go home. It's like living in a postcard out here with the Amish and the peace and quiet.

You know I gotta "like" Merle.

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Recycled Bricklayer

This is my third time back with my old PD workin some cold cases since my retirement in 1999.
This city and it's Government are circling the drain.
They barely function. Slightest hi-cup and it's over.
My letter goes in tomorrow advising we will not re-new our contract.
Walkin away from some good dough...but..
We are outta here 4-30-14....back to my beloved woods in East Texas.

What do you guys consider a "city". I know what the OP considers but about the rest of you?

To me a city is At least close to a million people.

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In the UK it's easy, it has to have a cathedral or it isn't a city.

In the US, 50,000 population seem to be enough to be called a city. Where I used to live in London UK, that's a small suburb.

A minimum of one red light makes a big city where I live. Lafayette has two! It is the county seat and everything.

Oh, who am I kidding. I don't live in the city limits, but still have it as a mailing address.

For me it depends on the city. I love Phoenix and Tucson. Dallas and Ft Worth I could also live in. I love San Fran even though last time I was there the homeless really messed with my 5:30 am Run Zen. L.A. is nice when it don't shake and has nicer weather than here. There's a lot more. Now I make no secret of my hate for St Louis. Seems I wind up there every 10 years for one reason or another and never have a good time, each time saying I'll never be back. Baltimore never again. Houses 8ft wide and 5 stories tall. Guess making the stairs every day for life keeps you in shape, go on without me. Never been to Chicago and hope to keep it that way. Enough effluent is emitted from there to keep me away, sort of like a rendering plant. Lots more cities on both lists. Grew up 10 miles west of NYC and mis-spent a lot of my youth there. I'll go again because I brought my Dallas Tx bride once and she's hooked. I am not a country boy even though I can do most of the things on the "list." Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

I live in the Oklahoma City area and I like this size city since that's what I'm used to but recently I have been doing construction projects in some small towns an hour or so away. I dreaded the drive at first but I have grown to like it since I get to see some nice scenery and wildlife going to and from work. Been seeing a lot of deer, coyotes, bobcats, and turkeys lately and the hawk and Road Runner population seems to have really increased. The other day I was slowly backing out of parking place in a one stoplight town and this guy honks at me and I get irritated and then realize it was some guy I met a few weeks ago just saying "Hi". The slower and friendly atmosphere is pretty refreshing compared to the big city but some things are a little depressing. Poverty, obesity, and mass tattoo's are common and you don't see very many pretty country girls like you did in the old days. One person told me in his town 70% of the kids are on the "free lunch program" at school which means 30% of the people pay for 100% of the food for kids.

How times have changed.

Me neither Lee! My son played organized ball for 14 years and I never missed a game. Don't see any reason not to do the same for HIS son.
f.t.

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South Carolina-God's country

Grew up in a small town. As soon as I could, I left and only go back to see my mother. I'm with Arik...I LIKE cities.

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Run Fast, Bite Hard!

I hate cities myself. I used to go to NYC two or three times a week when I was in my teens to help unload my father's trailers in Manhatten. Never did I smell a place before I could see it. To me I have no idea why you would want to live in such a crowded noisy, congested mess where people strive at living like cattle in a pen and then on top of it all, vote for people who make them vulnerable to criminals. No sir, I like my little small towns, right now I look out my window and I see trees, look out my front door, trees and more trees. The back yards, trees and woods. GO outside, the air is clean and fresh and my son can play outdoors without listening to neighbors yell, car stereos blasting out some gang bangers latest hits, the honking of horns, the smell of something in the air and having to worry about every one that passes by. Who would want anything else? On the plus side when the zombie apocalypse breaks out it will most likely hit the cities the hardest so while the looting takes place and the big screen TV's are being stolen first along with the sneakers the undead will be chowing down on the yuppies and hoodlums equally.

I have been to a lot of big cities over the years, NYC, Boston, Pittsburgh, Toledo, Cleveland, Atlanta, Philly, Orlando, Miami, Washington DC, Baltimore, just to name a few. I can tell you one thing about them all, if the world goes to pot withing a week they will all be killing one another in the streets and the week after that they will be eating each other. They are all products of failed policies and politics and they are all full of people (not all of them mind you) who think that their best friends are the people in charge of the place. I fear they are in for a rude awakening.

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Vaya con Dios

My town has 1841 residents. My back yard butts up against a woods that is part of a county park with two nice lakes and 12 miles of trails. There's only 5 miles of road in the town. I see deer almost every day behind my house and at night they walk around the development and eat grass and plants. I've actually seen deer on my sidewalk in the evening. Sometimes we have foxes in the yard. My little one street development has about 20 houses and just about everybody is from Md. They all commute, it's about 45 minutes to Baltimore. I like the peace and quiet here. I have about a 20 minute drive to get to my gun club, but, for $20.00 a year, who cares.

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Dennis
He's got a gun!

I don't want to live in a big city, but want to be close enough to take advantage of their opportunities.

I grew up in a small town. Today that town is all but dead. Most of the businesses there have closed.

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Common sense isn't so common.

My two-light-town is close to everything, but when I tell folks where I live they still say it's too far out. Fine by me, because we don't get many visitors! I'm on a dead end, private road that we share with 5 other homes. Most of our neighbors are great.

We had a newborn fawn 50 feet from my back door last year and got to see her grow over the summer. This year we have a den of red fox behind my barn that I can watch while sitting in my den. I haven't seen a rabbit's nest yet this year, but I'm sure there's at least one in our yard. We get all manner of wildlife throughout the year. They seem to know they can coexist with us (and we won't invite Hillbilly77 over during bow season)!

We belong to one of the best outdoor ranges in the state 5 minutes away or I can shoot out back when I want. I have 2 malls 10 and 20 minutes from my front door. I can be to our airport in 15 minutes. All of our sports venues are 20 minutes away. My boat slip is less than 25 minutes from here and I can be on some great small mouth fishing in 45 minutes. We have all of the chain restaurants and the "local favorites" all less than 10 miles away. Our kid's k-12 schools have always been a few minute's drive and have been excellent. My commute to work takes 10 minutes or less either way no matter what time of day.

My eldest is away at school 2-1/2 hours from here and the younger starts college in the fall 1/2 hour away. They are accessible if needed and yet are able to spread their wings and feel freedom away from their "overbearing parents"! Plus their college are top-notch and very highly-ranked nationally.

I think I've found the perfect place to live and particularly to raise a family with the solitude and serenity of the country and the conveniences of the "big city" minutes away.

Of course, I live in one of the highest taxed counties on the planet and obviously, our gun laws suck and our state government is totally dysfunctional. Those things weigh heavily on our future, but for now, I can't imagine being anyplace else.

For those who constantly pooh-pooh NY, sorry but you just don't get the big picture!

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paws for friendship

To me a city starts at 500 people, have to leave my county to find one of them.
Grandkid graduated last year with 19 others, one more had to take a class over the summer to get his diploma for a grand total of 21 graduates.