Living in a Small Town

I spent the first seven years of my life living in an Alberta village, population 300. Terry's family lived in several small towns in eastern Quebec, near the city of Sherbrooke.

Often, as we drive through the country or pass through small towns, we reminisce.

Should we retire to a smaller rural community?

It's nice to live in a place where you know everyone in town.

In the end, we usually conclude that, at our age, it's important to be close to essential services. We live near not one but half a dozen food stores. There are also two different hospitals a short distance away...

If we wanted to experience country life, we could always rent a cottage for a week or a weekend - but our neighborhood is pretty peaceful, especially if I compare it to central Toronto...

... where two of our grown-up children live.

(Occasionally we talk of moving there, too!)