Our town has the smallest population and oldest demographic of any of the towns/cities in our New England state. On voting day, the PTA puts on a bake sale, on the honor system. People gather in the parking lot to discuss the kids and grand kids, the upcoming church bizarre and to congratulate those who have bagged deer during bow season. We dutifully show our identification although unnecessary because one poll worker is a neighbor and the other a former bus driver.
During power outages we help each other by taking turns getting fuel for the generators and by checking in with one another and sharing meals.
In sickness everyone turn out to help, mow the lawn, put in the dock, run to the store or dump.
Although we didn’t grow up here, we know many folks who did and with the exception of technology, it hasn’t changed much but it could have. During our twenty years here a few interlopers with horrific business ideas tried to slip in projects that would have ruined the bucolic nature of the hamlet. That is when the hunters and grandmas go all Mama Bear until the danger goes away and we can all relax and settle back and appreciate what we have.
I forgot to add that we are a community of 700 citizens.
They used to let school out early for the opening day of various hunting seasons here. Don’t anymore.
Curious to know what kind of projects got rejected?
My still somewhat bucolic town is in search of new business prospects to fill empty storefronts. Our small downtown was killed by a mega-mall, then we were hit hard by the recession. But I have some dread of what might show up.