crazy lists

Things I hated about living in a small town:

1. Everybody knew your business (or at least tried to!).
2. Everybody knew your parents and their livelihood and never hesitated to remind you of it.
3. The world revolves around the local football team.
4. There was very little to do.
5. Jobs were hard to find.
6. You had to drive forever to go shopping.
7. Teachers always told you how advanced students from everywhere else were.
8. People who go to college don't come back.
9. The "You ain't from around here, are ya?" mentality.
10. 1/2 the girls in my high school senior class were engaged by graduation

Things I miss about living in a small town:

1. the closeness of a tight-knit community.
2. there's little to unite the city (subdivision homeowner associations don't count)
3. small government (it's your property..who cares if you put up a shed, etc)
4. the "traffic"
5. no shame in working menial jobs
6. EVERYONE kept quiet and still during the national anthem (or someone made them)
7. simple craft "bizarres"
8. it's easy to find your way around
9. having next door neighbors
10. community sledding on main street when it snowed and other crazy traditions