Little Town Fishbowl

People who live in big cities may not be aware of this but living in a small town means that you live in a fishbowl to a certain degree. It's not that your neighbors are nosy and prying into your business but let's face it, there are not that many people and it gets hard to not notice the same faces all the time. If you are involved in local events or have kids in school and little league then you know and are known even more. It's not bad at all for the most part. If people know you, they are more likely to watch your stuff. Our one neighbor keeps an eye on the neighborhood but then again I think we all do. i don't think we need an organized neighborhood watch because people are already looking out for each other. Besides the crime rate around here is low. The other nice thing about the fishbowl is that we were gone for Christmas and it had snowed enough that we were not going to get into the driveway without shoveling. Thankfully, our neighbor plowed it out and we did not have to do it after a six hour drive at eight at night.
The fishbowl does have some downsides. People can get to know your business. Usually that is not an issue unless your not comfortable with it or you have done sometime that you are not proud of. This can be extra painful for a pastor and his family. They are already in the lime light being the head of the church and with everyone knowing their business, it can become unfairly tough on pastor and family. i don't think it is malicious for the most part but people being people.
All in all, for me at least, the small town fishbowl is like my favorite old pair of jeans; really comfy but has a hole or two in it and not perfect. I am not getting rid of those jeans.