Hicksville, NA. It’s a three hour drive north, east, south or west of anywhere, as remote and isolated as anyone would want or, perhaps, hope to be. There isn’t much to do in the form of entertainment, the shopping leaves much to be desired and options for dining out are limited. On the other hand, everybody knows everybody, kids can still walk to school or play in the park without fear and one can still see the stars at night and hear the birds sing in the morning.

Life in rural North America is definitely not for everyone. Peace and quiet reign supreme. Nature is right in the back yard. Neighbours greet each other by name. Business owners know their customers and customers know their servers. The sense of community is deep. There are no secrets and there is no anonymity in these little hamlets. They are more like large families than mere places of residence; lives are intricately entwined.

Chances are good that villagers are on a first name basis with the mayor, the police and the doctor. Accountability is raised in rural settings both for those with authority and those who must answer to it. Moral and ethical breaches are impossible to cover up. The grape vine is open 24/7 and mistakes are broadcast at lightning speed without discernment. Everybody knows!

Change happens at a slower pace in small towns. The drive for more, bigger and faster is carefully weighed against the desire to preserve. There is an appreciation for what already is and no one seems to need to fix what isn’t broken. Life is simpler in a small town. Residents do not see what cities have as lacking in their towns; they see cities as lacking what they have. Fresh air, low crime and community spirit are all commodities too precious to trade off for anything.

People in rural settlements are generally friendly and welcoming. They can afford to be. They feel safe and seem to understand the humanness in their fellow citizens. Suspicion and fear are not prevalent, but this is not naivety at play. Those who are native to rural life can spot danger when it presents itself and they know that they have the rest of the town at their backs if they need it.

Support is a huge benefit for the citizens of small towns. They rally at the first sign of need to lend a hand whenever and where ever it is required. A loss is felt throughout the whole community just as a birth, a graduation or a wedding is cause for communal celebration. Achievements are acknowledged, often publically. Not many small inhabitants escape being featured on the front page of the local newspaper for some accomplishment at some time.

The advantages of rural life are not so much material in nature as they are spiritual. It may be argued that housing is generally cheaper and with fewer places to spend money, more money can be saved. Yet this is not what most people who live in these places will say when asked why they live there. They will say that it is a good way of life that drew them and keeps them there. They will say that they enjoy the kinship and the sense of identity that they have as a member of the community. They will say that they feel safe and comfortable where they are. They will say that they belong, and that is worth more to the typical village dweller than all the restaurants, theatres, clubs and stores their urban counterparts may have.