What's Been Going On

[DianaB]

We've had some very busy weekends for the last couple of weeks and have more ahead. The last weekend in September our community finally had it's Fourth of July celebration. Because of the flood we couldn't have it so it was postponed. It seemed really funny having it in the cool of the evening after one of our high school football games! A friend from church lives close to where they shoot them off so he always has a cookout that evening and invites a lot of us over. We had a good time but his wife recently passed away and we really missed her.

Then last weekend we had Homecoming which is a really big thing in our community. We had a parade (very small town, you know.....fire truck, kids on bicycles, our band and cheerleaders, horses, and motorcycles with a few Shriners thrown in!), carnival rides, arts and craft booths, activities all day long, and mini class reunions at the school. Our town's population is about 2,500 and we probably have 8,000-10.000 people who come. It was fun but I don't enjoy it as much as I did when I was younger.

Today we have our women's church group meeting. We're having what's called Rough & Rugged. We'll be riding 4-wheelers, shooting a bow and arrow, shooting clay pigeons, and target shooting, and ending with a hot dog roast and bon fire. It doesn't quite sound like a church women's group, does it? We've done this for the last couple of years and have had a blast so I'm sure that it will be as much fun as before!

So what have all of you been doing lately? Have your weekends been as crazy as mine have been?

[Mandy]

Diana, the woman church group meeting sounds like a total blast!! :thumbup: :D

Yes, our weekends have been hectic over the last couple of months, we have had something on every weekend. My husband just mentioned this afternoon "lets do something for us" tomorrow, so we will most likely go out with the 3 of us :)

[Marilyn]

Sounds like you've been having fun in small town America!!!!! So glad you are busy and happy!!!

Our weekends have not been so busy lately. Trying to recover from the wisdom tooth thing, but hopefully we will be back to normal soon!!

I drove through a very small town last night and it was football night, cars parked all along the highway and football stadium lights blaring. Looked like most of the town was there, how exciting for them.

We live in such a wonderful country!! We need to focus on this stuff and turn the news reports off sometimes!!

[judy]

That sounds wonderful. Small town life has always intrigued me.

We have tons of activities in NYC, but I find it's just too crowded, too anonymous, etc. for me. It'd kind of "been there, done that."

I'm looking for a nice town upstate NY to move to. I don't think I'll be doing the bow and arrow thing though. You were born into that wonderful life. I'd probably miss and hit the poor sheriff!

[AngieDoogles]

Judy, you crack me up!

As for me, lately I've just been trying to keep up with everything in life...

[Mandy]

That sounds wonderful. Small town life has always intrigued me.

We have tons of activities in NYC, but I find it's just too crowded, too anonymous, etc. for me. It'd kind of "been there, done that."

I'm looking for a nice town upstate NY to move to. I don't think I'll be doing the bow and arrow thing though. You were born into that wonderful life. I'd probably miss and hit the poor sheriff!



LOL ... Dont hit the sheriff ROFLMAO!!!!

[DianaB]

We had sooo much fun and the weather was absolutely beautiful!!! I rode the 4-wheeler into the hills and over the rocks. It reminded me of Colorado only on a much smaller scale. I shot at the stationary targets but I only hit one in my many shots!!! I didn't try the clay pigeon shooting because a shot gun has a lot more kick than a 22 and I didn't want a sore shoulder. We cooked hot dogs and ate by the fire. We had several women who had never rode a 4-wheeler and it didn't take them too long until they were zipping around, slowly but surely. My Mom was one of them. She was pretty cute out there on my 4-wheeler! Also we had some pretty good shots. There were a couple of women who hit targets on 9 out of 10 shots!!! That was pretty good!

Judy, it's a lot different living in a small town then in the city. For one, we are very limited on where to eat when we eat out unless you're willing to drive 30-100 miles. And shopping is the same way. We have stores here but if you want a good selection then you go to Wichita which is 100 miles, only 1 1/2 hours from here. But the really good things are things like we hardly ever lock our doors, our neighbors are old family friends or family, very little crime, no gangs, and the pace of our community is a lot slower than a bigger city. There's not a lot of things to do on a Friday or Saturday night unless you go to the movies or a church activity, but my family has learned to make it's own fun. Right now we're into riding 4-wheelers. Even my son is talking about getting one for his family. We play in the river or the creeks and I often have a container on the counter with some kind of "creature" in it. In the winter we play in the snow building snowmen or sledding down the driveway (I keep the cocoa ready for when everyone comes in!!!) It has it's pros and cons and I realize that small town life is not for everyone, but we really enjoy it!!

[judy]

Sounds like you had a lot of fun.

You know, NYC has a million things to do - the city that never sleeps, but at my point in life, I've done them. You also need a lot of money to partake of all that NYC offers.

My next move will be to a small town (not as small as yours) in upstate NY.

[Tink]

Trying to answer this question, I realize I have hardly left the house since the pups came. LOL I've sat home like an old mother hen watching over her brood other than a couple of quick trips to the nearest stores for groceries and pet supplies.

I think I'm due for a day off... so today I'm going to take a short drive to meet a lady I met online about 8 yrs ago and have seen in person twice. She's a real sweetie and happens to have an appointment about a half hr away today though she lives close to 2 hrs away.

We're just going to have lunch and visit, but I'm looking forward to it!

[DianaB]

That's neat, Tink!! I've met some family members that I found on the internet. Have a great time!!!! You deserve a break from all of your little puppies!!

[Gina]

Diana it seems like living in a small town that you create your own fun. Sounds like you and your family have it all planned for the coming mts. which is wonderful to look forward to.I like Judy have been born and raised in NYC life. I left NYC and moved to the suburbs, its quiet but there are many things to do, and only an hr and half drive to NYC. I don't think I can get use to living in a small town, though it sounds like fun, Im just too much of a city girl...


Btw Judy do you remember that song I shot the sherriff but I didnt shoot the deputy...lol I think Eric Clapton sang it...

[Tink]

My lunch date went well. We met at 2:30 and sat there til 4 just chattering.
This is someone I knew from working online and we just always hit it off. She's going to be back there in a couple weeks, so we're hoping to meet again then.

It was so good just to get out of the house!

[Gina]

Tink, I am glad that you got out and spent a little time with your friend. We all need ME time....:)

[judy]

Tink,

I'm happy you had a good time. We all need to get out with friends every so often or we forget who we are.

Gina, was that Clapton? I love him. If I come to your town Diana, I won't shoot the deputy!

[DianaB]

Tink, I'm glad that you had a good time! And you have something to look forward to in a couple of weeks.

Judy and Gina, I would really appreciate it if when you came for a visit that you didn't shoot either the sheriff or the deputy!!! I'd hate to think what the neighbors might think!!!!

[judy]

They'd think "What a hooligan that Diana turned out to be - look at her friends!"

:wink5: :wink5: :wink5: :wink5: :wink5:

[DianaB]

:sidesplit: :sidesplit: :sidesplit: :sidesplit: :sidesplit:

[katepoet]

I want to come to Kansas for that party next year! Women of Spirit who are full of spirit! Wow!

Our weekend plans got shifted due to my student's needs but tomorrow we are driving an hour and a bit to where we used to live, a smaller town, Fredericksburg, VA, to deliver a computer to an old friend who needs one for writing memoirs and stories. It was given to use by another freecycler, built just for our friend. We got a table for her to put it on from another freecycler. :)

Then, I'll visit another old friend who is also a writer and catch up on her life, drop some things by the house we used to live in that belong to the new owners such as the book for the dryer, stop down by the Rappahannock River for old times sake, and head back to our home which is west of Richmond VA but not by much.

What towns are you considering Judy? Adirondacks, Finger Lakes, Erie, St. Lawrence or Hudson areas? What are you looking for in a new home? Will you be retiring?

We lived in Ithaca for a couple of years. Beautiful.

But here outside Richmond, we get swamped by the number of people at events, too. I don't remember it being so crowded when we went to NYC for museums and such back when I was growing up. Now everywhere is jam-packed.

On the other hand, being near the city means I can find more work and that helps a lot.

[judy]

Sounds like a good weekend! I tried to sign up for freecycle, but yahoo really is confusing to me. I'll get it (or not). I'll try again today.

I'm thinking of mid or lower Hudson Valley. I think that's one of the most beautiful places I've seen. It seems to go with my soul. I'm looking for a condo, but not in a retirement community. I'm going to be taking some tips up there real soon as soon as I decide on some towns to check out.

[Marilyn]

Oh, Judy, how exciting!!!! I can't imagine being independent like you are and getting to scout out where you want to live. That would in some ways be soooo cool. I know you have a lot of issues you are dealing with, but look at some of the positives. You get to pick where you want to live. There is a certain amount of power to being in that position. Upstate New York must be beautiful!!! Hope you find the perfect place, and the perfect man to share it with!!!

[katepoet]

The lower Hudson valley - so beautiful. A little outside the city but not into the really chilly terrain. You can hop a train into the theater or head into the Catskills north of the area on a beautiful Indian summer day.

[judy]

Yes, I have total freedom. I can live, love and do whatever AI want. That is so exhilarating!

The funny thing is - I've always wanted to live in the country. My daughter moved to a small town near Albany! I'm a bit pissed off - like she stole my turf. If she doesn't want me around, then don't come around where I'm going to be either!

[katepoet]

Well - from what I've been hearing lately, Albany has its problems. Some parts of NY are so depressed it's sad.

[judy]

She's in a village of about 5,000 people called Woodburgh. I have no idea why they chose it.

[katepoet]

I can't find a map of Woodburgh. Funny.

[judy]

Middleburgh - sorry.

[katepoet]

Looks like kind of a depressed area like most of NY in that neck of the woods. But there does seem to be a lot going on so there is community. I know she's a pain right now but I hope she is happy there, and perhaps grows up enough to mend her fence with you.