image from www.cracked.com
1) Bond with people.
Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet.
Eye contact, a hello and a wave can make a day. It won’t take long until there are no strangers!
Stranger Danger is overindulged. After living a life in the City looking through people, I appreciate how warm and friendly everyone is here. We are all on this ride together, why not chat to the people who make up your day?
Sure life is sometimes like an episode of Cheers – but I kind’ve like a town where ‘everybody knows your name”
2)You are only restricted by your Imagination.
Don’t expect the place you live in to entertain you. If you think living in a small town is boring, perhaps it is you that is boring!
Waiting to be passively entertained is for the lazy – create your own.
No cinema? Rent a video.
Not many restaurants – learn to cook!
No nightclub – create one at yours?
No fast food chains – Halle-bloody-lujah!
Not many fashion houses – take up sewing!
Feel unconnected – Get online, join a committee – start something yourself!
3) Tumbleweeds are fun - No, but they are!
During a windy day the other day I laughed to myself as Tumbleweeds blew through the park! Seriously!
“One Horse Town alright” I thought.
My son let out an almighty screech of delight and we chased them around the oval. Pure delight you just wouldn’t encounter in the Big Smoke or somewhere with distractions and without tumbleweed.
Being in the moment is easier in a One Horse Town.
4) Less pressure to fit an image
It is cheap to live in a One Horse Town and the need for money isn’t as pressing. A life lived without CONSTANT pressure from the media / peers to buy or look a certain way (on buses, billboards you name it) takes the edge off consumer mentality and you can live life as the person you are with less emphasis on keeping up with the Jones’.
5. Simple life is not a sad life
When I first moved to the OHT, I felt like a loser, a dag – and oh how embarrassing. I would speak poorly about it, I would tell my city friends how quickly I’d be back – there was no need to do this.
There is no shame in living in a small town. In fact, I am very proud of it. I am who I am, and am defined by myself not by my suburb, corporation, clothing label or choice of eating / drinking establishment.
6. “Please stand clear, doors are closing”
Is not a line I ever hear, and I do not miss it. Knock off work at 5pm, home at 5 past. ‘Nuff said.
7. “The grass isn’t greener on the other side, it is greener where you water it”
Don’t expect the world to water your lawn, be happy within yourself and you can rock the world wherever it is you live.
7 Comments
8. Be Sharni – Even though in life you can choose what you want to do that doesn’t mean you get to choose what you like to do. However because choices are limited in OHT doesn’t mean you have to stop doing those things you like, you know the things that make you Sharni. Plenty of evidence of that here. :)
aw, thanks Heather
I absolutely love this! I spend all day listening to a certain someone bag out this town. There are plenty of opportunities here as long as you are willing to make the effort to look!!
Thanks Casey! True, true!
Ok, so I am in a regional city and not a OHT but I can only endorse the small town lifestyle. I turned my back on Sydney 12 years ago and all the wild horses, exclusive shoe boutiques and live theatre in the world would not get me back.
C’mon city gals, give regional living a go!
Great points….I love the one where you’re only restricted by your imagination, think that one applies to everywhere!
yeah, they probably all apply everywhere come to think!! I’m sure you could find a tumbleweed if you really really looked haha