You know Cookie, some towns are lovely in the way that you describe...but those same towns seem to have a good cross-section of people living there that make them pleasant but still dynamic,...a blend of long-term people whose families settled there plus newer folks who have moved from elsewhere and made a good committment to fit in, give back to community.

I've stayed in too many towns and rural areas where my partner and I just would not fit in --how many small towns would have a mixed interracial couple...who on top of all this, is not married but living common-in-law for a long time? We probably would always be friendly outsiders in such communities.

Some towns where we tried to find a general store or even any food store, just had....lousy food selection. And we seek out fruit/veggie stands by the roads as we bike along also.

since we don't have a car....then the issue of healthy food sources or shall we say, a wide variety of healthy food would become an issue for ...both of us.

As we age, I think being in an community /city with a wide range of support services and advocacy groups becomes quite important if you should experience problems where no one in your family has the expertise/means to help you. Church groups do not have expertise in certain support services/care for long term illnesses, etc.

My friend who lives in a town of 2,000 (but commuted 100 kms. each day for her job in city of 80,000), had a tough time trying to find local support expertise when her mother fell into dementia. She was the sole caregiver since her father died.