While I was growing up, I spent my time moving around. My dad was in the Coast Guard for 20 years, so I spent quite a few summers packing up and moving somewhere new. With that came starting school again and making new friends, which I became a pro at, if I do say so myself. I spent my time in places with large populations (like the St. Louis suburbs), but there was nothing I enjoyed more than heading back to good ‘ol Shenandoah, Iowa in the summers to visit my grandparents. After my dad retired, we moved back to Shenandoah. I might not have grown up there, but living in a town of about 5,000 taught me that nothing can beat a small town.

1. You can get anywhere in five minutes or less (and never have to use a GPS!).

I'm able to drive across my entire town in about five minutes, so I know that I'll never be late to anything.

2. Everybody knows everybody.

There’s this theory called the Six Degrees of Separation which basically says that everyone is connected in someway, usually through a friend of a friend. If you live in a small town, you know that’s true. Chances are if you don’t know someone, you have someone in common who knows the both of you. (“Oh, I went to school with your parents…”)

3. Because the town’s so small, there’s an abundance of friendly faces.

I don’t ever think I’ve walked downtown without seeing someone I knew or hearing a chipper “hello.”

4. Small towns mean small schools.

My graduating class was around 70. I knew every single person I graduated with. Another plus? The graduation ceremony was less than an hour and a half!

5. You don’t spend forever trying to choose what to eat when you want to go out.

Because it’s a small town, there are usually some limits to food choices, but I think it’s great! There's no need to rack your brain about where to go for supper. I’m pretty indecisive anyway, so there's no need to add an abundance of choices.

6. Safety.

Never once have I felt unsafe in my little town. When I drove my truck, I would leave the keys in the vehicle and I didn’t lock the doors. Walking outside at night isn’t terrifying, like it would be in a big city.

7. If you want to go fishing or camping, you never have to go very far to find a place.

Small towns are mostly rural, so there’s always someplace to go to get away for a while. Just drive a couple miles out of town and you’ll find somewhere.

8. The air.

OK, I know this is a bit off the wall. I’ve been to big cities and they have all had a smell about them. Everything is so close and confined, there’s no room for air movement. But I always know I can breathe in fresh air in my little town.

9. The stars.

There’s something oddly satisfying about being able to lay down in the middle of the yard, look up, and see the stars right above you. There aren’t any lights to drown out the natural beauty of the sky above you.

10. The sense of community.

Little towns where everyone knows each other are the best for a sense of community. When something great happens, we celebrate together. When tragedy strikes, we comfort each other. There’s really no way to describe the feeling that you can get when so many people come together.