I’ve lived in small towns most of my life, with the exception birth thru age 12, when my family lived in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. And in the 50’s and 60’s the East Bay still had a small town feel to it.
We moved north of Jenner on the N. Calif. coast, pop. 500 in 63’. I attended Fort Ross Elementary School, a little red, three room school for the 8th grade, 68 students K thru 8, with 8 in my graduating class. The HS I went to had about 400 students, 137 in my freshman class.
The little town we have lived in for the last 25 years had about 5000 pop in 94’, now it’s over 7000. The best thing about a small town is the feeling of community. I just got back from my daily walk, and I ran into a couple that I’ve become acquainted with over the years, Steve and Joanne, and we discussed the Democratic debates. I know all the city councilmen on a first name basis, one of them lives right here in our HOA. I know several of the mail carriers by name, and frequently have conversations with them when we run into on another. There are 20 units in our HOA complex, and I know everyone by name and they know me. And we all get along, no neighbor problems, how many people can say that?
Everything is within walking distance and a wonderful place to live if you like a slower pace. San Francisco, “The City”, is about an hours drive away, depending upon the time of day and the traffic. So, if we want a taste of the city life, its accessible, but I would never want to live there. Sonoma County is home to me and I love it here.
Eddie
