comment: >
  
  To each their own but I have a feeling that small town France and small town Tennessee are two very different things. I grew up in a culture that despises gay people and really anyone who is different than them. Yea, they will be nice to you to your face but talk absolute shit about you behind your back. You can keep it. I'll take the indifference where I can live my own life without people I don't really care about weighing in on my life.
context: What country side town is in Boston? I live 30 mins away and  have never seent a small country side town in or near Boston. >
  
  Right, I can’t place this either >
  
  Topsfield. 32 minutes without traffic >
  
  Tewksbury >
  
  The ideal is to live in a small city next to a large one. >
  
  I don't understand how suburbia appeals to ANYONE except out of necessity.
  Like seriously, every 'burb I've been in has been a depressing neighborhood where all the houses look the same. And its always too damn hot because they got rid of every single tree. >
  
  I’d rather live in the suburbs than in the city. Cities make me incredibly sad and anxious. There are just too many people. >
  
  Agreed. Try rural living. Even better. If I can't pee while standing on my front porch because people can see me, my neighbors are too close. >
  
  I'd like to live in a house on a larger lot further away from everything. People are too loud in the suburbs. >
  
  There's pros and cons to both.  I grew up rural and you have to plan life differently.  Need a random grocery item?  Expect to pay WAY too much at the SMALL local store (If they even have what you need).  Social person?  Friends will never just stop by or even come over for literally anything unless they have months of notice.  Even then... they probably won't come to your party.  Cell reception?  Good luck getting anyone to call your landline while you're at home. >
  
  Rural isn’t really small town though. Traditional small towns have a Main Street and some density. They became illegal to build under zoning laws at some point, so almost all of them were built before the 1920s.
  A lot of rural development over the last hundred years has been more like suburban sprawl, but with more space between the houses (worsening the isolation & need to drive everywhere in the suburbs). That sort of pattern makes sense for farmers, but I don’t know why so many other people have opted into it. >
  
  I don't think anyone glorifies the suburbs. >
  
  Keyword here is “sometimes” living in a small town full time is not near as glamorous imo. >
  
  What’s there not to like about a small town? As someone who grew up in a small town of around 7,000 people in  rural Tennessee I can give you a list as long as your arm. Just imagine that every public place you go there is someone you know. That may sound nice and quaint at first but remember that also includes the people that you can't stand and don't want to see. And god forbid you ignore them or you'll be labelled a rude POS. Everybody knows everybody's business and gossip is out of control (because they have nothing else to talk about) to the point that half the shit you hear about people isn't true. Almost everyone is super religious and social life revolves around church. It sucks and I hated it. Some people like it though and fair enough if you do. If you just visit a small town once a year then you really have no idea what it's like to live there. 
  Also, what is an example of "good old country wisdom"? Sounds like something on a Cracker Barrel napkin. >
  
  I grew up in the French countryside and I loved it. My parents however never got used to the small town mentality and endless gossip. We ended up moving to the city and I absolutely despised it. People don’t really care about your business, for sure, but they’ll still look, and judge, and bother you if they so please. You could be dying right there on the sidewalk and nobody would give a crap, but wear slightly old-fashioned clothes and you’ll get side-eyed on the subway. Nah, I’ll take the small town and the gossip.