We live in a town so behind we're ahead, says my co-author Julie Coates. 
Our 1950s community has several aspects to the 21st century that suburban communities lack.
One is that local business helps create community.
At our local pharmacy, our pharmacist Leah sells books by local authors. All the money goes to the authors.
It's very hard to get a book into the big chain book stores these days.
Plus it helps create a sense of community.
This return to community will grow as neighborhoods become more dense and people work from home.
The concept of stress-free, small town living is cylical. Small towns grow because people move there for a slower lifestyle. The lifestyle changes as the towns grow. Call it the Wal-Mart intrusion effect. How many traditional commercial downtown areas in small towns have become art districts because the Wal-mart 10 miles past the last exit has crushed the competition?
I will take telecomuting every day in a big city so my daughter doesn't have to go to day care after school.
Posted by: Bill | January 22, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Bill:
That's good news for small towns! In my town, we don't have Starbucks. We have to get our espresso at one of three locally owned coffee shops. Also, our mall is not that great, no good stores really, but our boutiques are great. And in the summers, we have great concerts in the park - usually by local artists.
Posted by: Suzanne | January 18, 2008 at 07:18 AM