I think a solution for many people will be to have two homes. My partner and I have a modest townhome in the city (Atlanta) and a farm in a rural part of Alabama (about two hours from Atlanta). Each come with their own unique set of pros and cons. In the farm county, the best restaurant is Subway (yes, that's Subway the sandwich chain). In Atlanta, there are several wonderful places to eat, but most of the time, it's not worth the hassle of fighting traffic to get there. Granted, many major US cities have real, workable public transportation but that is the exception, not the rule.

At this stage in my life, I would prefer to spend perhaps two days in "the city" and spend the rest of the time on the farm. Unfortunately, I'm doing the exact opposite of that (five days in the city, two on the farm). My current job has the most draconian work from home policy of any place I have ever worked. That's why few Gen Xers stay here (and yes, that is my generation).

In the city, there is practically no quiet spot and very little interaction with nature. On the farm, it is frequently quiet and peaceful. Wildlife is abundant. And though I have enjoyed orchestras, plays and museums around the world, at this stage in my life, I think I appreciate non-controlled nature experiences to a walk on the greens of an outdoor sculpture garden.

Small towns will have to adopt a lot of progressive ideas to succeed. Having a university can make a HUGE difference. Having access to natural beauty (a lake, some mountains) can also help. But ultimately, the ideology of small towns must change. Sadly, I don't see that happening in most cases. I think Canadian small towns have a much brighter future than those in the US...But time will decide!

Great post Harold!