One of the most striking trends that have been noticed over the past few years among the service families and personnel has been their move from sprawling urban centers into more tranquil small towns. Some of the major reasons, in this regard, include wanting life to be quieter, financial ones, and having a more practical daily routine.
One military spouse, Carrie, moving from Chicago to Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, pointed out the competitive nature of city life. “We were looking for a simpler life,” she said. The everyday pressure of securing the best schools for their children and the overall competitive atmosphere put them on the move.
Similarly, the 28-year-old who moved from Seattle to Santa Fe stated that “the climate in the city” and “the high cost of living” presented significant stressors. For her, the move was vital for homeownership and better well-being in general.
Well, the benefits are manifold in smaller towns. Carrie called her new town like a “1980s John Hughes movie”—community events, 4th of July parades, Halloween festivals. Many, therefore, not only appreciated the community but also the lighter hassle in everyday life through shorter commutes and spontaneous social interactions.
The change is not without its challenges, however. Jinny said that moving from Las Vegas to Rexburg, Idaho, was inconvenient, owing to limited services operating on a 24-hour basis and the need for very careful planning just to accomplish simple errands. Alyssa, of Boston, relocated [d] to Brunswick, Maine, saying there was less available in activities and services, which sometimes called for settling for less than what a person wanted.
However, there always is a sense of community in the smaller place, which most times surpasses everything else. Jinny said she once needed help unloading a moving truck and her neighbors just showed up—and that, she points out, is what gets lost in the bigger towns and cities. Moving from Chicago to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Robyn related how the community had come out in droves to help a local farm rebuild after a devastating fire, which showed the collective spirit and mutual support found in smaller towns.
The move from urban centers to smaller towns reflects a strategic shift for most military families, according to Hawkins: striking a balance between professional obligations and personal well-being. As Anuradha Bhagwati of the Service Women’s Action Network put it, “Community, simplicity, and a manageable lifestyle are the hallmarks that give military personnel and their families a better quality of life.”.