Explore the advantages and disadvantages of moving to a small town, including challenges of community-building and finding housing. Learn about a couple's ongoing conflict about the decision and the thoughts of a second guest. Discover the allure and concerns of small town living, including politics, safety, discrimination, and dating prospects. Delve into the pros and cons of relocation, from relationships to saving money, and get a sneak peek into the next episode on dating in small towns.
Moving to a small town offers benefits such as increased gardening space, a slower pace of life, and a tighter-knit community, but it also raises concerns about potential homogeneity, limited amenities, and fitting into a close-knit community.
When considering a move to a small town, individuals need to explore and assess the energy, vibe, and compatibility of each potential small town, as well as carefully consider the challenges of dating in a smaller pool, including finding partners who align with lifestyle choices and navigating potential tokenization as a person of color.
Deep dives
Considering a Move to a Small Town
The podcast episode explores the challenges and considerations of moving to a small town. One couple, Lauren and Rose Wenstrom, share their ongoing struggle to decide whether or not to make the move, with conflicting desires for city life and rural living. They discuss factors such as proximity to family, acreage, and the trade-offs between community and personal preferences. Another guest, Noelle Moraine, shares her perspective as a single person looking for a cozy and walkable small town, while also considering diversity, dating prospects, and amenities like hair salons. Common concerns are discussed, including the need for a supportive community, social and political compatibility, and the challenges of dating in a smaller pool. The episode ends with the acknowledgment that the decision to move to a small town requires careful consideration, financial planning, and perhaps a leap of faith.
The Pros and Cons of Small Town Living
The podcast delves into the pros and cons of small town living. Pros mentioned by the guests include increased gardening space, a slower pace of life, a tighter-knit community, lower costs and risks for small businesses, and opportunities for artistic endeavors like artist residencies or Airbnb ventures. The desire for personal space and privacy is highlighted as an advantage, as is the potential for a closer connection with nature. On the other hand, concerns discussed include potential homogeneity of a small town, challenges of fitting into a close-knit community, limited amenities and shopping options, the need for travel to access certain services or goods, potential political differences, and the importance of feeling safe and included as a person of color in a predominantly white community. The podcast emphasizes the need for individual exploration and research to assess the energy and vibe of each potential small town.
Navigating Relationships and Dating in a Small Town
The podcast episode touches on the considerations and challenges of relationships and dating in a small town. The guests share their perspectives, with one couple discussing the potential compromises and trade-offs for dating when moving to a small town, including the likelihood of encountering divorced parents and the difficulty of finding a partner who wants the same things. Another guest, Noelle Moraine, expresses her openness to dating but acknowledges the limited dating pool in a small town and the need for potential partners to align with her lifestyle choices. Concerns about being tokenized or the only person of color are discussed, along with the desire for a politically compatible community. Ultimately, the episode highlights the need for personal exploration, patience, and a willingness to adapt and compromise when it comes to relationships and dating in a small town.
Many city dwellers find themselves daydreaming about moving to a small town. Maybe it’s a chance to slow down, own property or just have a porch to sip tea on. The pandemic and remote work accelerated these plans for a lot of Americans. In this episode, we’ll talk to listeners considering making the jump. First, we have Laura and Anders Wennstrom. They have a great community in Minneapolis but Anders, an avid gardener and grouch when it comes to noise, has always dreamt of a place where he can truly spread out. Laura thinks there’s benefits to city life, especially when it comes to their kids growing up in a diverse community. Then we hear from Noelle Murrain, a 45-year-old Black woman, who has lived in LA and NYC but is contemplating making the move to a small Connecticut town. But first, there’s a lot of questions she has to ask herself. And we’re along for the ride.
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