Neosho: A Real Community

In cyber space, there are many virtual communities, places where we can find like-minded individuals who share interests or aspirations. As a writer, I visit a few online communities geared to writers and one of the largest has thousands of members around the globe. A recent discussion about whether or not physical location plays an important role in a writing career led to a debate over major cities versus small towns. Some of the community members felt that only a major city could provide the network needed to work as a freelance writer. Others felt that only large cities could offer amentias they hold dear, things like outstanding museums, live music venues, and shopping opportunities.
As I read this debate, I found myself jumping into the discussion after someone complained that the small town of 100,000 where they now live is too provincial and lacks the necessary ingredients for life. If that is a small town, I wrote, then the town where I live would seem tiny and insignificant but it is not. In addition, I mentioned that many people of all backgrounds, various careers and origins, have chosen Neosho as their home because it is a small town.
I realized that many of the things that we hold dear in Neosho may not be what others seek and that some of my urban peers might think that our way of life here is old-fashioned or quaint. As I traveled around at the end of last week, it seemed as if each day I was reminded just how important our community is in our lives and how deep roots go into the local history.
Although I am not a native of Neosho, I have lived here a very long time, since I was just a child. At a recent event at my son's elementary school, I exchanged greetings with many people I know. Some are former classmates from my own school years in Neosho. Others attend the same church and still others are business people with whom I have done business over the years.
In a small town like Neosho, this is life. My son's music teacher is a former classmate of mine. One of his classmates' grandfather is the man I have bought several vehicles from in past years including the Buick that I now drive around town. When we bought our home (and sold our other home) a few months back, our realtor was someone I have known for decades, a former co-worker who attends the same church as my family. My kids' school bus driver is another member of our church and the shuttle bus driver that ferries my daughters from the middle school to the high school to catch their own bus home is their paternal grandfather's former co-worker. When my daughters attended Benton Elementary, one of the school cooks was an old neighbor and friend. The list could be endless because over the past thirty years, I have become part of the community that we call home.
Like everyone else, I have my regular stops around town and I enjoy seeing the familiar faces. Whether it is my husband's cousin at the local library or the guys at the local post office - who I have come to know as a regular customer mailing off my submissions for years or the supermarket staff who know me by name, I like the feeling of community that we have in Neosho. It's not often that I run errands or go shopping without seeing old friends, neighbors past and present, or someone that I know. Some of the faces are familiar ones I have known for years and others are new additions that have become part of our town.
Small town networking is part of the fabric of our lives here in Neosho. We know one another and we are a true community. As much as I enjoy visiting my favorite online communities, they are virtual and not real in the everyday world where I live and work.
As I told my cyber space friends, small town living works for me and Neosho is home.