I live my entire life in a relatively small capital town of Slovenia with approximately 300,000 inhabitants (the number is slowly increasing). There are those who will say: "Wait, this is not a small town. You do not know what you're talking about." But believe me, I know. Of course, it is, compared to some cities in the rest of Slovenia, but I can not say that I live in a big city with a few million inhabitants. From my point of view it seems small. So, when compared to my experience (had been in Paris, London, Milano, Sophia, Istanbul,ect...).
After i met my partner, who is not even from Europe, with completely different habits,culture,huge city,ect...i realised that i'm coming -as he said-from little part of haven on earth.
So,I occasionally wonder about the advantages and disadvantages of living in a small town.
Yes, it’s true. Even with this number of inhabitants you know or you are a friend or relative or coworker or you know someone that knows that person. You can get information about someone or something very quickly. If you need to fix something fast there are always ways to do that. No matter if it’s business or personal. No matter if it’s about administration, health, house, school, university, work related thing or even love interest you don’t have to worry, someone you know always know someone that can help you.
I’ve been living in the same street 25 years and all my neighbors are still the same ones I have grown up with. That is a great thing, because there is mutual respect and I can rely on them or ask for help and vice versa. Also, if you found someone that you like you can easily find out every single thing about that person; who his parents are, where he is working, his likes and dislikes, where he hang out, does he has a girlfriend or two, etc. You need to be careful though, there’s a thin line between stalking and getting info about your love interest
After i moved, in few months same story, i learned all about my neighbors and their habbites.
This fact's can be advantage or disadvantage.
One more thing is great when you live in a small town. If you go for a walk you are likely to run into someone you know . You don’t need to worry if you even go out in the evening by yourself, it is likely you will meet a friend in the club and be invited to join the group.
Everything is close.
Yes! Everything you need is relatively very close: supermarkets, markets, parks, banks, shops, restaurants, malls,opera, theatre, etc. I mean everything. You can go by car and you’ll get from one part of the town to the next in less than 15 min (with heavy traffic top 30 minutes). Or you can go by bike or on foot and not get too tired. If you don’t want to wait for a bus, you can go on foot and arrive only 30 or 50 minutes after the same bus. Crazy, right?
Also, every major town institution or shops or banks are in the center. You can finish your paperwork or shopping in no time. And sit to have a coffee with a friend and go back to work all during your lunch break.
Even in the evening or if you go out at night. You don’t have to have a car and you can wear your favorite high heels if you want and simply go by taxi (they aren’t that expensive in smaller towns). All major and most attractive night-outs places and bars are also in the center.
People are ready to help you if you are in a need of help.
In smaller towns people are more open and are more ready to help you if you need help with something, no matter how small or big thing is. When I have a problem with something I could just mention that in conversation and the next thing I know the person I was talking to is suggestion to help me or ask some friends to help me.
There is less traffic and the air is cleaner.
Yes, less traffic means cleaner air and it is a very good thing. You can’t imagine how precious that is. In big cities you are likely to stuck in traffic and spend hours in traffic jams. And don’t let me start about the smog. Sometimes the whole city is dirty and gray and heavy with smog.
There is also less noise, another great thing. Unless your neighbor is in the punk-rock band or you are close to the construction site you don’t have to worry about the noise. You can freely open your window and let the air fill your room and listen birds sing.
Our government even closed the city center for traffic - great act.
As you can see this are advantages of the smaller towns, if you ask me.Of course you may have completely different opinion i will be more than happy to hear it.
In the end i want only add that even my country is small; take a look on map it's like a chicken but advantage again in few hours you can be in mountains or sea side, a lot of forest area – not touched by the people here; knows how to respect that.If you wanna know more let me know i will be more than happy to introduce it to you.