City life can sometimes be overwhelming, and for people who come to live in a city from a small town, this may be even more true. Despite the advantages of living in a major urban area, people who come to a large city from a small town may wish to retain some of the small town experiences, regardless of whether they moved from the city recently or as long as 20 or more years ago. Figuring out how to find those experiences within a large city may be even more overwhelming.

*Look for neighborhoods with active community groups -

Some communities have strong neighborhood watch groups or neighborhood associations. These sorts of groups can help a person who comes to the city from a small town, feel those small town experiences. They also encourage neighbors to get to know one another, in much the same way that they would in a small town.

*Look for ethnic communities -

In cities where there is a large population of people from different countries, there may be neighborhoods or smaller communities within the city, that are designed to provide these people with some of the comforts of home. Someone who comes to a city from a small town may feel comforted by this.

*Look to suburbs and small villages

Suburbs may offer all of the benefits of a city, but in a much smaller environment. Families may find that suburbs are more family friendly, and that depending on their size, they may have the same sort of feel that a small town does, despite the fact that it is close to a city. This may be an ideal way to be able to deal city life when the reason for the move was a great job opportunity.

*Shop at local businesses

In this day and age of shopping malls, super stores and warehouse stores, many of the small local businesses that used to be the backbone of these former bedroom communities are going out of business. When residents of a community make a point of doing business there, they may be able to prevent that local business from going out of business.

*Patronize local restaurants

In this difficult economy, it can be difficult for small local restaurants to compete with fast food businesses that offer a value menu with items costing no more than $1. When residents of a neighborhood, suburb or small village make a point of patronizing the old and well established locally owned restaurants, they become a gathering place for area residents. This may feel like a homecoming to someone who comes from a small town.

Find places where people regularly gather in a very friendly atmosphere. Dog owners often frequent dog parks and come there to meet other dog owners and to allow their dogs to play together. This can be a great way for someone from a small town to get the friendly interaction that is so much the hallmark of small town life. If you aren’t too shy to talk to people, you may even discover that there are lots of small town people who are living all over many big cities.