Although small towns are a great option for setting up little "COVID nests," one should also be aware of the trade-offs that come with the quieter new life.
As the pandemic brought hectic urban lifestyles to a screeching halt, many city dwellers began thinking about moving to smaller towns in search of more space and a more relaxed pace. Although small towns are a great option — both financially and aesthetically — for setting up little "COVID nests," one should also be aware of the trade-offs that come with their quieter new life. Unlike big cities where folks barely have the time to even nod at their neighbors when they pass by them, small towns typically have tight-knit communities that get wind of, and broadcast, every last bit of new information.
Add to that the considerable downgrade in accessibility that you're likely to notice pretty quickly and you're better off knowing exactly what you're getting into. That said, small towns do have their own subtle but irresistible charm and might just be what's been missing from your life. So check out these 25 tweets from folks who know small towns to get a better sense of the non-urban life:
Things people do in small towns:
— Earl Dibbles Jr (@EarlDibblesJr) August 17, 2018
Drive around.
Eat at the same 2 restaurants.
Drive around more.
Go to town that is slightly bigger.
Make a bonfire.
Call friend to see if they want to drive around.
Tell me you live in a small town, without telling me you live in a small town. pic.twitter.com/DPz2rfpmPl
— Liddle Jessica Savage 🤷🏻♀️ (@losingminddaily) August 13, 2021
“Sorry I got stuck behind a tractor” is a legitimate excuse I’ve used so many times for being late to literally anything. Because Midwest
— l e a h ☾★ (@LeahAnne_xoxo) May 6, 2019
At the store? See someone u know. Out for dinner? See someone u know. Go walking in the woods in the middle of nowhere? See someone u know.
— Small Town Problems (@SmallTwnProbs) November 5, 2017
nothing like being in the grocery store, turning to walk down an aisle & BAM there's someone you've seen naked.... & their romantical partner..... #smalltownproblems pic.twitter.com/ySjNfP6JfV
— 🍉Jaime🏳️🌈 (@islandjaimelee) March 15, 2020
Small town problems are having to worry about getting pulled over for being out after curfew. 🙃
— ☆ (@Starr_redcrane) June 19, 2018
Our town is so small that if you don’t pay your mortgage or bills, you get called out in a news letter that is sent out freely to the entire town.
— dani🌱 (@DWerkhoven) February 3, 2020
Living in a small town is annoying as hell because if someone new comes in with a last name of someone else, you get 21 questions asking if they're related to so and so who lived on ___ street who was married to ___. Like Idk & I don't care 🙄you ask them 🙄 pic.twitter.com/rYe8vi0fl5
— Aly 🍑 (@PeachaNicole) February 12, 2020
This is the only place that I feel truly belonged, yet I have multiple mental breakdowns if I stay more than 2 days #smalltownproblems pic.twitter.com/oyoVkEgL1O
— Zeynep 🌈 (@zeynepinthesky) February 1, 2019
Going back to your small town for the holidays is pretty fun cause everyone’s balding, some are in pyramid schemes, and your high school bully is the cop
— James Drew Lipowicz (@JDLipowicz) December 6, 2019
Everyone thinks it's quirky to come from a small town but it just means that you see all of your peers turn into drug addicts and also there's cows.
— ♡ daikon legs ♡ (@virgoberries_) December 17, 2018
Awkward moment when you're late to school because there's a cow blocking your driveway.. pic.twitter.com/CmApyo2ZfO
— heather. (@WigginsHeather3) March 20, 2013
Came from church to find a 550 pound pig standing in the road. #SmallTownProblems pic.twitter.com/ux5ujfchsJ
— Mark Matt (@GHS_CoachMatt) December 2, 2018
There was an actual live rooster waiting to be picked up at the post office this morning. #midwestlife
— Lisa Cerezo (@lisa_cerezo) May 4, 2016
Coming from a small ass town I’m terrible with directions. I have to go by landmarks. You can’t tell me “Go East on 8th street and left on Watson” You have to say “Hey, go left at the stop light where the stray cats wonder around, then a right at the second McDonald’s”
— Kody Lane 🦩 (@VeryKodyLane) January 30, 2020
Made fun of it when Im in it.
— Craig Mcdonough (@_CraigMcDonough) March 19, 2019
Defends it when I’m not.
If you don't want the whole town knowing about something, you better not do it, stuff spreads quick around here
— Austin Phillips (@APhillips_13) June 3, 2014
That whole "don't-date-your-friends-ex" thing doesn't really apply here #smalltownproblems
— Small Town Problems (@SmallTwnProbs) February 16, 2014
Midwest small town rivalry is saying that your town is great, has a better coffee shop, and is way better at sports. The next town over is terrible in all regards.
— Midwest vs. Everybody (@midwestern_ope) March 29, 2019
"Ya...we don't have that in my town" #smalltownproblems
— Small Town Problems (@SmallTwnProbs) April 6, 2019
"Where are you from?" and then you describe the general area that your town is in, referencing the nearest city that they might have heard of even though it's 4 hours away. #smalltownproblems
— Small Town Problems (@SmallTwnProbs) April 9, 2019
This morning’s conversation at McDonald’s:
— Ashley Davenport (@AshD926) March 31, 2018
Old farmer: Are you a Davenport?
Me: Yes—I’m Foster’s granddaughter, Dave’s daughter.
OF: I thought so! You look like a Davenport and sound like one.
Thankfully, he meant it as a compliment. #smalltownproblems pic.twitter.com/gSz3c6Ykeo
I seriously do what I can to stay out of trouble because I don’t want any of y’all to have access to my mugshot. #smalltownproblems
— 𝚃𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜 ☀️ (@tiggatango) November 12, 2019
Daring, KY Police Blotter: Officers were called to the home of Millie and Burt Buckner after Mrs. Buckner reported "a giant spider, possibly a tarantula" between her stove and refrigerator. Upon examination, the creature was identified as a coconut macaroon. #smalltownproblems
— Anna Josephine -- "Dispatches from Daring" (@DaringKY) July 31, 2021
Apparently the biggest news of the day in my hometown is that there are some rogue goats on the loose and the Mayor has threatened to send police out to put them down if no one comes forward to claim or capture them. #SmallTownProblems pic.twitter.com/ivoQxJhhTf
— Elizabeth Vowell (@ElizabethWAFB) April 9, 2019
Living in a small town and being gay is so hard like i have the choice of 3 girls like guess i'll just date myself ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— Jo (@Aeriolo) April 8, 2017