so about 2 years ago or so, i was ready for a change. had a good job, nice life, but was looking for something different. i felt like i was waiting for life to happen instead of actually experiencing it.
so i was looking at different options, seriously considering moving to la or new york.
i moved to sherman instead.
it definitely turned out to be the best thing, i don’t regret it at all. it’s just about the opposite scenario of the other two.
what’s cool though is in this time i’ve met some really interesting people. interesting in the ‘awkward hello’ kind of way, but also some who i hope to continue friendship with for a long time.
one friend grew up in the country…like waaaay country. with cattle, mountains, and stuff like that. he lived in a bigger city for a while, but just decided he likes country life more. it’s quieter, closer community, etc.
so of course in talking to him i’ve had to ask myself if i could do that. my initial reaction was NO WAY!! awful. especially since when i think about it, why do i like living in a big city? the shopping. restaurants. i went to a huge college in a big city. i’ve gone to big churches.
but is big really better? one place is better because it has a target??? a chipotle? screens in the worship center? i mean come on. it seems so shallow.
now i’m not saying, “country life here i come!” or that bigger cities are bad. of course not. it’s just that i think i’ve been somehow programmed to think bigger is better. everything’s bigger in texas, etc.
i guess the bottom line is i realized i had a preconceived notion in place that i think is getting shattered.
and that’s really what experiencing life is all about. 
April 4, 2008 at 1:10 pm
i know what you mean. i’ve lived in a small town for 9 years after spending my first 15 in two large cities. i can’t say that i have a whole lot of positive memories of city life, but there were a few advantages. i mean, everything i needed was in a 10 block radius of my house, that’s convenience. I can’t say that i like small towns, but i’m not totally against them…after all, they’re almost completely safe (in my terms).
funny thing is when i lived in the city i never thought about small towns…almost as if none existed. i’d seen them in movies or tv but it was almost like i didn’t believe that they were real…until i moved to one. the guidance counselor at my high school said that i was going to have some “culture shock”…and that is quite possibly the ultimate understatement. everything was so confusing and different, it’s taken yeeeears and i still haven’t adjusted completely.
9 years later…i still don’t know the difference between a farm and a ranch. amazing right?
April 9, 2008 at 9:22 am
We just got back from NYC last night for a visit and when we crossed the county line coming back home, Ryan said “Grayson County!” And I said, “Did you ever think you would be excited to see Grayson County?”
Yep… we’re both glad to be back. Big cities aren’t my cup of tea.
April 9, 2008 at 11:41 am
I’m the opposite, I would love to live in the country!! I think. I would have to be a much better planner and cook to avoid “driving into town” all the time. But the idea of no traffic, a slow pace to life, really appeals to me. But I’ve always lived in the city so I might just have an idealistic view of country life.
Also for poet, if you weren’t being sarcastic…a farm grows plants. A ranch grows cattle.
April 9, 2008 at 2:09 pm
suzanne-no traffic is definitely better! i’ll go back down to dallas and i realize i’ve grown accustomed to no traffic.
maybe i’m starting to lean toward country life too…
sarah-grayson county is definitely calmer than new york! it sounds like y’all had fun!