Why Small-Town Life Feels Different

One of the biggest adjustments after moving from Phoenix to rural South Dakota wasn’t the weather.

It was the pace.

In the city, everything feels fast. Your head is on a swivel. Traffic, schedules, appointments, noise, and a constant feeling that you should be doing something.

Then you move to a small town.

At first, the slower pace feels strange. Almost uncomfortable. You find yourself waiting for something to happen. Looking around for the next thing to do. Wondering why nobody seems to be in a hurry.

Then there’s the waving.

People wave at each other when they pass on the road.

The first few times it happened, I remember thinking, “Do I know you?”

Apparently, that doesn’t matter.

You wave anyway.

And if you don’t wave back fast enough because you’re daydreaming or trying to figure out who they are, they might decide you’re rude.

Another thing I learned is that people in small towns often know your family history.

At least if your family has been there for generations.

If you’re an implant like me, they don’t know your grandparents.

But don’t worry.

Sometimes they’ll eventually tell you things about yourself that you never knew happened.

That’s when you realize small-town gossip is alive and well.

Despite all of that, there is something special about small-town life. The pace slows down. The sky feels bigger. People notice when you’re missing. And over time, what once felt unfamiliar starts to feel like home.

Even if they occasionally make up stories about you along the way.