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Unless you've been on an extra-long holiday, you're probably aware that Andy Griffith died on July 3rd. He was an icon in many ways, but his role as Sheriff Andy in small-town Mayberry is the one that warms up our hearts the most.
I've been doing a lot of thinking and research lately about what makes up the perfect community. Dwayne and I plan to make one more calculated move in our lifetime, and we want to get it right. We've been tossing around lots of ideas, and focusing on research that says a college town is the ideal place for older Americans. Because we still plan to live on a farm, our time in town is pretty special and important to us.
When Andy died it hit me: We are not looking for a perfect community, but for an imperfect one, full of interesting characters and challenges. Who doesn't need an Aunt Bea, even though at times she can be a bit overbearing and likes to gossip? She would chase off the devil himself if she thought you were in danger. And who isn't amused by the ego-riddled antics of lawman Barney Fife? Or sympathetic to the plight of poor Otis, the usually agreeable and sweet town drunk? And then there's Opie, a good boy who asks penetrating questions and tries hard to mostly stay out of trouble.
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My husband and I have found ourselves in a position that allows us to live anywhere, for the first time in our lives. We both work from home now and have no distance limitations. It's not just about living in a place where the majority of the population isn't ingesting bath salts. We're drawn to art, auctions, antiques, dance, community theater and the water. We love old town squares but crave cultural and learning opportunities.
We're looking for a place where people really want to engage with each other, but where they also know how to respect solitude. We're seeking a place with warmth and heart, where people are genuine and creative and community-minded. Sounds like a lot to ask, doesn't it. I think we're in search of Mayberry.
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Have you ever thought about what would make a perfect (or perfectly imperfect) community for you and your family? It's an eye-opening experience. I'd love to hear what your Mayberry looks like. Please feel free to leave a comment.
Marianne M. Smith
Writer At The Ranch
Making You Look Brilliant One Word At A Time
http://writerattheranch.com
wordsmith@writerattheranch.com
Always enjoy your thoughts, and this one on the "perfect community" is no exception. I don't have the freedom at this time in my life to search out my own Mayberry, but it is definitely food for thought.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rice! It's definitely fun to consider, even if you can't actually go just yet.
ReplyDeleteI always dreamed of living on a farm-especially so after visiting my mother's aunt's farm in Illinois when I was in high school. I fell in love! It was such a peaceful place-like its own little world-the corn and tomatoes in the fields, the yellow clapboard farm house, the cats lazily chasing butterflies in the yard, the dusty road leading to their place and the antique furniture inside that old 3 story "castle"! I would love a place like Mayberry-I guess any place that has that charm and warmth. Yet, having lived in the city for so long, it would need to be fairly close to the city as well. Maybe I need 2 homes?? LOL Thanks again for sharing!
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