I'm a firm believer that no matter how big of a town you live in, people who are not creative and not fun to be with anyway tend to get bored. It's all a matter of making your own fun. If you can't even keep yourself from being bored, think how dull you must seem to other people. Never in your life will you experience such low crime rates. You don't really need to lock your house, lock your bike or lock your car.
Safety is also a big plus in living in a small community.
Before I came to Iowa State, I never once thought about walking alone in the dark. Getting your house burglarized and drive-by shootings were horrible things that were seen in the news, but they rarely happened to our townspeople. Sure, your shopping malls are a little farther drive away, and there may not be any stoplights in town. It's all part of living in a community where you are known and loved. As for Governor Carlson, he can say what he wants, and I won't be offended.