THE BEST SMALL TOWNS IN AMERICA.

This comes from my Smithsonian Magazine. They chose  towns with less than 15,000 population that are big on culture as the 20 best small towns in America for 2013.

 

What makes a small town big on culture?  Exceptional concentrations of museums, art galleries, orchestras, theaters, historic sites and other cultural blessings.

 

If the air is a little fresher, the grass greener, the pace gentler than in metropolitan America? All the better.  Generally, they’re devoted to preserving their historic centers, encouraging talent and supporting careful economic growth. There’s usually an institution of higher learning, too.

Most important are the people, unpretentious people with small-town values and high cultural expectations—not a bad recipe for society at large. As a sign on a chalkboard in Cleveland, Mississippi (our No. 2 pick) puts it, “Be nice. The world is a small town.”

Here is the List:

1. Gettysburg, PA.,             11. Galena, IL
Cleveland, MS.,                   Sausalito, CA
St. Augustine, FL.,               Hanover, NH.
Baraboo, WI,                      Oberlie, OH.
Astoria, OR,                         Jackson, WY.
Petoskey, MI,                       Lexington, KY.
Fairfield, IA.,                         Abilene, KS.
Los Alamos, NM.,                  Lihue, HI
Sitka, AK,                            Fredricksburg, TX.
Provincetown, MA.,              Glenwood Springs, CO.

I’m pleased to note I’ve visited Gettysburg, Baraboo, Astoria, Sitka ,Provincetown, Sausalito, and Fredricksburg. And in all cases, I found them delightful. So, traveler, fit one of these in your plans and you won’t regret it.

Read more about the towns they’ve chosen at their link.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-to-Visit-in-2013-196855051.html#ixzz2OVGYaVLe

WANDERING BAYOU LAFORCHE

Living in small towns has its benefits and its difficulties. Raceland had no laundromat nor liquor store. People here don’t drink much except beer. Jim is a good planner and got on the internet and found where the last crossing over the Bayou was located, the drawbridge above. The internet also disclosed a Washateria in Golden Meadow, but no liquor store to be found. It was a nice drive along the Bayou Lafourche.

Both sides of the Bayou were lined with fishing rigs like the shrimp boat above, fancier than the smaller boat below. They are equipped with all kinds of electronic equipment and mechanical devices. A shrimp doesn’t have a chance. You see nets in the smallest “ponds” of shallow water. One guy told me he didn’t care whether he ever ate another shrimp. He just can’t get excited about them anymore. My impression was they are like water cockroaches. Kind of makes you wish your back yard were so infested.

The boat below brings in oysters. Looks like he has lunch everyday on board.

We found our Washateria and got our haircuts at Karen Morales shop, the only one in town. She said for entertainment, people here go to Houma events and the Casino. One of her customers was waxing enthusiastic over a “salt shower”, something I’d never heard of. You lie on a bed of salt and a hot steaming spray melts the salt and apparently makes you feel wonderful. Karen lamented the fact her kids don’t speak French and she worries that the cajun language is disappearing. Even her French is lacking, she claimed. I remember Charles Kuralt, the television personality, listening to a Cajun man voice the same worry over thirty years ago, but Cajun is still going strong, and I”m grateful.

We parked along the Bayou for the night and saw this little boat with a long history.

How innovative that the owner installed a regular old well pump to bail water. The boat is in need of some tender loving care. I hope it gets it.

Jim uses the internet so often to plan where we go, you know if the place your headed is open or not, what roads to avoid, etc. It makes me wonder how people got along without it on the road?

FOUR M's DID MURPHYS

There was music on the streets during Murphys Open House.
Violinists at Lavenders.
Caroling with the Church Choir.

Two of the M's, Michal and Madalaine visit Mr. & Mrs. Santa. The three M's are actually 4 M's.
Marilyn Pinnow opened the first Toy Store in Murphys. And, it is still going with a new owner. She is a talented writer and published a book about the Hippy 60's. She and I and Maddie above.
A time to meet old friends in a crazy hats. Small towns vs. big towns? We have more fun!

"I WAS BORN IN A SMALL TOWN"

"I Was Born In A Small Town..." I don't know the rest of the words to the song, but in my case, the words are true. I'm sure there is a deep seated reason that our family migrated away from old familiar places to settle in a small town. We are considered rural by the U.S. Census.
Then, every once in awhile, some incident reminds me of why I love to live in a place like Murphys.
When Richard Olson goes to the local bank, his dog Chico comes with him. Richard does his banking, but Chico steps up to the counter at El Dorado Savings and is handed a dog biscuit and then he patiently sits while his master finishes his paperwork.
You can see he and Chico riding around town in a bright red Jeep.
Yep! That's just one of the reasons I love living in Murphys. You'll also note the lack of long lines in the bank on a Friday.
If you discover you've forgotten your checkbook at the grocery store? They'll put a note in the cash register that you'll be back to pay later. If you've been sick, your doctor is likely to call you after a couple days and ask how you are doing.
In small towns you get personal service and most of the business people know you by name.
I'm still humming..."I was born in a small town.." Its a great place to be.