Small Town Discovery

05/10/2026

Last Sunday, we posted that we bought a house in middle Georgia, and a few of you messaged asking why we picked Georgia. Well, first of all, the kids are all on the East Coast. I need to know that in an emergency, I can jump in the car & drive! Secondly, Paul didn't EVER want to shovel snow again. That sort of narrowed us down to Middle Georgia, Florida and some of South Carolina. We were not fans of the high home owners insurance in Florida. I could easily have settled in North Georgia-hilly, hiking trails, green...sort of "New Englandy", but it snows! Middle Georgia has beautiful farmland, small towns, super nice people, and only 2 hours to the ocean. Now that we have explained, here is the sweat equity on the house this week!

05/09/2026

When we were young, our daily goals were pretty self absorbing, - have a friend over, ride our bike, go to the playground or listen to music all day. We would wake up on a Saturday morning with our whole day planned. Life was simple and good. Fast forward to high school and college where our daily goals were more about finishing a paper, studying for a test, or getting our hair just right for a special date. Then came jobs, homes & family obligations. The goal was to keep breathing amidst all the chaos. It was a challenge to figure how little sleep we needed, and how much coffee it took to accomplish everything that needed to get done. I remember the back of my car being full of sports equipment, Gatorade and peanut butter crackers. Many times I felt like a hamster on a wheel. If I didn't think about all I needed to do, and just kept running, I would some how get there.

Then we retire and life seems to stop and do a complete 360 degree turn. We are back to life being simple and good. If we want to spend the day with a friend, read a book. or travel-done. Where it gets tricky, is not having a daily goal, or a purpose. It's important for our physical and mental health to have something to look forward to. It can be big or small, but it needs to be a part of our routine to make a plan-to find purpose. As my Mom got older, she told me that she refused to just "sit in the chair & grow cobwebs and wait to die". She kept that mantra right up until the end- walking, visiting with friends, traveling, baking and mailing handwritten letters. This weekend I am going to create both inside and outside. I am planting flowers that repel bugs and making a live edge table. When I get done, I probably won't win any awards from Better Homes & Gardens but I will have a reason to jump out of bed and put my brain to work. Like my Mom, I refuse to grow cobwebs -purpose breathes life.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you still running on the hamster wheel and those of you that have slowed down. Enjoy your special day.

05/04/2026

What happens when you let two old folks loose on the town? Yup, we bought a house! Let me catch up those of you that are new to our page. Paul & I owned a small business in a small town in Massachusetts. We retired in December of 2021 and in February of 2022, hit the road in our motorhome. In January of 2025, we sold our house in Massachusetts. We have traveled to all but 6 of the continental U.S. states. As we have traveled, our mission has always been to share small towns and small businesses with you. We know how hard they fight to be noticed. Our small town discoveries led us to a great house in the tiny town of Pineview, Georgia-population 477. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, hardwood floors and 2.75 acres. I am happy that it has no stairs, Paul is thrilled that he has a workshop again and Brook can't believe she has a fenced in yard! We will still be living in the motorhome while we do some painting & renovations. So what happens with our travels? To be honest, we aren't sure yet. We tend to let life happen as it happens and don't plan too far ahead. We definitely will be traveling again, just not right away. While ya'll are waiting for us to discover new small towns, we hope you'll get a chuckle out of two old folks "starting over". A huge thanks to our realtor-Kimberly Amos for finding us a wonderful new home. It's never too late to begin again!

04/30/2026

A few weeks ago, we went to the Possum Hollow Festival in the tiny Town of Dexter, Georgia. Dexter has a population of 685 people and pretty sure all of them showed up for the event! It had everything a local festival should have-local musical talent, crafters, vendors, games for the kids, good food & a car show. We met friends there and really enjoyed just sitting in the shade with a cold iced tea, chatting, and listening to music. The festival started in 1974 and it was an annual event for 37 years, celebrating community, neighbors, and small town hospitality. The "Possum Hollow Festival 2.0" began in 2024 and from what we could see, it hasn't lost its enthusiasm. There were a lot of smiling people, of all ages, appreciating the charm of this small town. Except for the hay bales, we didn't see a possum connection, but I guess that's good. No possums were harmed in the making of this festival!

04/26/2026

Jeffersonville, Georgia-population 902, is located 23 miles southeast of Macon. It is considered the geographic center of the State. Before it was called Jeffersonville, it was the community of "Sandy Bottom". The area was then incorporated as the town of "Raines’ Store" in1828. In 1849, it was changed to Jeffersonville. It became the county seat for Twiggs County in 1868, and remains that to present day. It is the largest town in the county and the schools are located there. Twiggs County isn't very large. It has 363 sq. miles and approximately 8,000 residents. Jeffersonville itself is a small tight knit community that is proud of its history. In 1962, Jeffersonville’s Volunteer Fire Department became the first Volunteer Fire Department certified by the State of Georgia! The day we visited, we found interesting historical architecture, fun businesses, super nice people, and of course my favorite-a train depot! Just because Jeffersonville is tiny and historical, don't count them out as being non progressive. We have traveled to almost all of the lower 48 states and it was the first town we found with solar panels on their streetlights! They have a town sign that reads "Citizens with pride make a strong community". We couldn't agree more-be proud Jeffersonville & thank you for the hospitality!

04/22/2026

Today is National Beagle Day! Brook thinks every day is beagle day!

04/20/2026

LOVE this story. When we get creative and invest in our hometowns, magic can happen💙

Jeff Kinney, the man behind the bestselling book series, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” is on a mission to revitalize his small town of Plainville, Massachusetts, which is also the setting of his 20 books and 8 movies. Kinney shares that he and his wife built a bookstore with their first “Diary of a ...

04/19/2026

As we drive around the country, we find small towns that can be described as historical, or unique or adorable. The jackpot is all 3 characteristics! Sometimes, we find a town that makes us stop and ask questions. Danville, Georgia has a population of 156 living residents and a whole lot more that are just memories. It is located 31 miles southeast of Macon, but it is very far removed from Macon's bustling commerce. Danville has no downtown-it is abandoned. Parts of the former stores still stand with vines holding the structures upright. The railroad still runs through the center of town, its whistle echoing through the fading facades. Downtown has a city hall and volunteer fire department, but we didn't see anyone there. The elementary school closed in 2004, and now all the children are assigned to county schools. We love old architecture, and there are unbelievable old homes in Danville just waiting to be brought back to life. Internet data shows 56% of the homes in town are currently vacant. When we asked why Danville had such a decline, the answer is simple-the town began to have more deaths than births. Younger families were not moving to the town because of an economic shift toward areas with more job opportunities. We understand, but it still makes us sad. We truly hope Danville begins to rebuild and like the train engine, becomes "the little town that could".

04/18/2026

When we are young, change is different, unknown & exciting. At some point, as we age, we begin to prefer routine, familiar & predictable. When does that transition happen? I remember being younger and watching my grandparents have baked beans, hot dogs and brown bread EVERY Saturday night. I would think, wow-I am never going to be that repetitive. As I aged, I saw my parent’s friends go to the grocery store every Friday night and I laughed and said, “that will never be me.” I used to call my mom on a Monday morning and ask her what her plans were, and she said it was Monday, so of course she was doing laundry. She did laundry every Monday. My life was one big whirlwind of work, kids, & chores and I did not even know what day it was most of the time, so I could not imagine a life so tedious. Now, I am older and have unexpectedly transitioned into a repetitive life, and I love it! There is comfort in knowing that every morning I am watching the news, drinking coffee, and doing puzzles on my phone from 6:30-8:00. When I walk my beagle, she likes routine too-so we follow the same path every day. I still like little changes-my husband and I explore unique towns, and go different directions and meet new people, but there are no MOMENTOUS changes. The reward for aging is that you get comfortable with your life. You like your big fuzzy blanket on the couch, your favorite flannel shirt and knowing who you will meet at the post office at 2pm on a Friday. Tranquility is the reward for feeling like your life was a whirling dervish when you were younger. There is peace in standing still, knowing your next move, and feeling grounded. If life feels a little hum drum, I do something stimulating like a new recipe, a different book genre, or a craft project. I do have a BIG change on the horizon, but I have been planning it for so long that it does not feel daunting. More news on that another time, for now-time to do laundry, because it’s Monday!

04/14/2026

HAPPY 75TH BIRTHDAY PAUL!!!!!!! You might be as old as dirt, but there's no dust on your tires🤠

04/11/2026

Living life simply is the easiest way to a peaceful heart. When was the last time you listened to birds, marveled at the color of grass, or truly appreciated the smell of your coffee as much as the taste. The human noise around us is very loud, especially these days. News and opinions are 24/7 on our televisions, computers, radios and phones. It’s important, but calming your mind is more valuable. Defining the difference between importance and value is a personal one. What you value goes much deeper. It’s easy to get caught up in what we feel is important; jobs, laundry, cleaning, paying bills, etc. Those are all needed things, but don’t let them throw so much shade on what you value that you no longer see it shine. Decide how much of your day you want to spend on what you value. If you have never done this, start small and build up. Your first day might be just making a list of what you find valuable! When you are spending your treasured time, shut out everything else that distracts you and just focus on finding peace. For example, I love writing and it is valuable to me. I schedule time weekly and I need to be alone with a nice nature view and the only noise being my keyboard. Every morning, I walk the dog and have a conversation with the universe, I find value in that. Life is too short to spend all your time on just the important things. Decide what you truly value-what brings you happiness-and allow those moments to ground you while also lifting you up. Simple joy can bring you immense personal wealth. Take a moment to find value in your day and experience peace in your heart.