Small town, small life ?

I wonder sometimes what it must be like to live and die in the same place, never moving, never exploring a wider world.

There are generally two types of locals in this town that would fit this description.

The first is of the 'glass half full' mentality, fully of the mind that there isn't anything much worth exploring outside of the immediate area and that this is simply the most wonderful place that God ever made. Ever cheerful, helpful and friendly this individual is known and respected by almost everyone. The reassurance and sense of self that comes from knowing every facet of your surroundings must be wonderful.

The other is rather less appealing. The 'miserable bugger' seems unable to leave what he deems as a shithole of a town, and so drags out every day life with all of the enthusiasm of a child on the way to a dentist's appointment. He'll waste no opportunity to gripe and tell you about how the place has gone downhill, point out all of its shortcomings and generally spread his dark cloud in your direction. He seems to lack the courage to do anything else and so remains locked in the same daily cycle of life, doomed to live out his days in small town hell.

I think we're pretty lucky that most local residents who can claim to be 'true locals' fall into the first category - maybe that's what makes this place so special for those of us who come late to living here.

Since I left 'home' pretty early in life, I'll never know what it's like to have the same constant of place. Maybe that's a good thing.