I grew up in a huge metropolis of Burney, Indiana. Population was whatever about 60 homes could hold. We had no town council, mayor or police. We never locked our doors or our cars. Kids ran the streets and played games. We had no public service utilities other than electricity as everyone had their own water (well) and septic system. The county took care of the roads. We seldom had anything that was a crime unless halloween pranks counted? But that is all changing. Forced city water, piped in full of chemicals, and a forced sewage treatment facility (which still has not been built) was enough to move me and most of the folks I grew up with on to new locations. Living in a small town is slowly drying up as government steps in.
We had two stores, three garages, a bank (at one time), a grain mill, a post office and a fire department. Rules and regulations have shut down everything except the fire department and one garage. A ghost town in the making!
I lived in a city for one year and that experience like to drove me nuts. I hated every minute of not knowing your neighbors, strangers running the streets all hours of the night and constant wail of sirens looking for an emergency or crime. I would prefer to be homeless, living in my tent, rather than go back to another year in the city. And thats just a city of 16,000 or so. I just can't do it!
