I have been born/raised in Springfield. We have about 115,000 people and are surrounded by farms. Here's the thing... I can't stand the thought that we are the "big city" to all the neighboring little towns, but I also can't stand driving in St Louis or Chicago traffic. I hate the smell of manure, and I hate large spiders, but I also don't like noise and chaos.

Springfield seems to be just right. Minimal traffic, no farm stink, city spiders, quiet, and decent shopping. Quality of life is good, cost of living is low, and salaries are decent. I'm happy right where I am.

I grew up in a little town on the ocean. I loved it! I'd never even seen a city until I was almost a teenager. Merging in traffic was very scary to me!!

My fiance grew up in a town of 400 people. (I'm not sure that's called a town) - now it has 841 people. We are trying our best to figure out how to move back there!

We are both country mice!! However, there are some things that come with city life that we need right now. (i.e. people that like having massages, or I can't work). Retirement will be to the high dessert of Oregon though!

Country mouse!!! I was raised in a village with 1,000 people, 1,200 in summer. I lived in a town after that. Then I moved to the big city. Lets talk claustraphobia. I now live on several acres just outside a large town, and about an hour's drive from a large city. So if I really need something I can get it, but my neighbors are not sitting on top of me.