Fandango’s Provocative Question #200
Today, Fandango wants to know how we feel about where we live. What’s right and wrong about it.
Which of these four types of communities do you currently live in? Are you happy there? If so, why? If not, why not, and which type of community would you prefer to live in?
We live in a small town, but we live in the most thinly populated area of the town, so I think that means we are somewhere between exurban and rural. There are more farms near us than businesses. The biggest business in the area, other than the deli (lottery tickets and extra half & half if you run out) is the huge Cannabis Dispensary which is at the end of our street.
Cannabis is all the rage locally. This is because it’s legal here, both recreationally and medically and we are only a few miles from both Rhode Island and Connecticut where it isn’t quite as free and easy. We have so many pot shops nearby that I have to believe they are going to soon have a bunch of “going out of business” sales because there are too many shops and not nearly enough people.
Are we happy here? Well, I would be happier if we got a few more services especially considering how high our taxes are. Like maybe streetlights? How about a sidewalk? Better trash pickup and recycling services? I know I would be miserable in a city, so whatever the issues involved in rural living, it isn’t the city and I am very glad of that.
We could use better shopping. A classier grocery store (we only have one) and maybe the return of our bank, which left town without us. We could use another pharmacy so CVS wouldn’t own the town. Okay, a few more dentists, doctors, and maybe a real mayor rather than the select people who I didn’t select, but run things anyway.
On the up side, the lack of people and the dearth of roads leave plenty of room for woodlands, rivers, ponds, streams, and lakes. There’s water everywhere you look. I don’t think you can be anywhere in the area — the Blackstone Valley — and be more than a quarter of a mile from the river. People grow corn, breed horses, and we are surrounded by apple orchards.
The Blackstone curls and curves around us and when you hear the sound of rushing water, you know there’s a dam nearby. We have great birding because we are so wooded and enough deer to make maintaining a garden a nearly hopeless task. When it was so dry last summer, the deer at everything, including things they normally wouldn’t eat.
It’s beautiful here. It’s beautiful through all the season, even this one, though with no snow, this is about as dull a time of year — photographically speaking — as it gets, yet it is still beautiful.
And always, the river and its tributaries and streams is with us. Sometimes I look around and get all choked up. I feel privileged to live amidst such loveliness.
I think I am happy. I can’t imagine going back to city life. I would hate it.
Share this:
Categories: #BlackstoneRiver, #FPQ, #gallery, #Photography, Anecdote, Blackstone Valley, Mumford River, Provocative Questions, River
SERENDIPITY: SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
It is a lovely place to live. I couldn’t go back to the city either.
LikeLike
The convenience of services in a city don’t make up for the harshness of the environment. Once you go country, you never voluntarily go back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was younger I would have missed things like cinemas, eating out, going to concerts and sporting events and shopping of course. It doesn’t bother me now. I can’t afford to do it more than once in a blue moon and there is a lot less in the shops that I enjoy looking at anyway.
LikeLike
I haven’t liked “fashions” since I was a teenager. I hate short skirts and high heels and even more, I hate tight clothing. The price of restaurants is crazy now, so I have learned to cook more interesting food. If I hadn’t spent so much time improving my cooking, I really don’t know what we’d do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have never been into fashion either and these days I am more into comfort anyway. I used to like browsing bookshops but there are cheaper ways to buy books now. I used to like browsing toy stores to see the dolls but I don’t really care for modern dolls. Department and gift stores practically don’t exist. I have more fun at Op shops and markets and am more likely to buy stuff there.
LikeLike
Except for a couple of big stores in malls, there really aren’t any more department stores. I think we have two remaining … well, three if you count Target. Kohl’s and Macy’s are the traditional ones, sort of. But they really put themselves out of business, partly by never hiring enough people to serve customers and then by ONLY showing styles for the pre teen sets. The got rid of shoes, business clothing — and for a few years, they didn’t sell ANY skirts or dresses. I gave up. Between the long long lines at checkout counters and how none of the clothing looked good on me, even if it was on sale and not expensive, I STILL didn’t want it.
I used to shop at the Salvation Army store, but they closed too. I started buying from catalogues in the 1980s because I could at least find clothing I didn’t hate — and when I stopped working, I pretty much stopped buying clothing. Every once in a while I replace something that has gotten really ratty — and my sandals (after 15 years) finally fell apart. My real Aussie Emus and the old Uggs will probably never wear out in this lifetime — and it isn’t getting all that cold anymore, either. I’ve been offloading clothing as fast as I can. I don’t wear most of it anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does look beautiful there.
LikeLike
It is lovely. The river, the woods, birds, farms. It looks like the world 100 years ago except for the cars. There’s not much work for anyone and no quality restaurants, but we can’t afford restaurants and neither of us work. I can’t imagine living in an asphalt city again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You live in a beautiful place
LikeLike
Thank you. We do. It makes up for a lot of other niggling issues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, pros and cons!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos! 💕
LikeLike
Thank you. It is beautiful. With the weather changing, living in a place where there are so many trees makes a HUGE difference, too.
LikeLike