Since we’re focusing on setting around here, I thought I’d jump in and contribute my two cents to the topic.
“So, where are you from?”
That’s one of the questions asked most frequently and early on in the conversation when you meet someone for the first time.
Setting--where our fictional worlds are placed--tells a lot about our characters. And their backgrounds--where they were born and raised--can reveal even more about them, as well as influence their development as story people.
The same is true for humans!
What about you? Are you a City Mouse or a Country Mouse? Did you grow up in a place that’s large in area, where the properties are spread out and people had lots of elbow room? Or do you come from a city or town that’s large in population but small in size, so people lived nearly rubbing shoulders with each other?
My hometown was highly populated but, being only about three miles square, didn’t take up much space on the map. Today, in the town I call home, I travel nearly that distance to get to the grocery store!
I’d have to say the smallness of my hometown had both pros and cons. On the one hand, as a child, I found having so many people around gave me a sense of security. On the other hand, as an adult, I can see where that upbringing led to the need for some space around me.
So, where are you from? How did your surroundings impact you as you were growing up, and how did they help form the person you are today?
What did you like best about the place where you were raised? What did you like least about it?
Whichever of the above questions appeal to you, I’m eager to hear your answers!
All my best to you,
Barbara
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Barbara White Daille
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
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23 comments:
Barbara, where we grow up definitely has a hang in who we end up being, I think. I grew up in a rural part of Kentucky, about 4 miles outside of a small town of about 2,500-3,000 people. There were two stoplights in the town (the whole county, for that matter). Now I live in a metro area of about a million people. There are good and bad parts to both types of places.
I grew up in many different places but the one where I landed as a high school junior is the one I call home and it is a medium size city I guess of around 300,000. I would say it wasn't the places I grew up in that shaped me to what I am today but the number of places that made me the loner I am.
Trish, you really went from one end of the spectrum to the other!
There's a town not far from where I live that never had a stop light until a few years ago. It was a MAJOR big deal when they put the light up.
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Ellen,
The number of places a person lives in can probably affect them in many ways.
Interesting observation. Thanks for sharing!
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Hi, Barbara! what a thought-provoking post. I guess when you get right down to it, I'm your country mouse (Farmington NM) and was transported to Denver Colorado in my twenties. My college roots New Mexico State University too were small, so Denver felt like a metropolis. I wouldn't trade my small town roots for anything, I grew up, like you, surrounded by a feeling of security and friendship, but Denver and Colorado as a whole definitely yielded more opportunity.
Donnell,
Seems like it's sometimes a tradeoff, doesn't it?
But that freedom choice to decide where we want to live as adults can also mean having the best of both worlds.
Thanks for posting!
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Wow Barbara, your post sent me down memory lane in a big way! I grew up in a city suburb, but when I was 10, my family moved out to a rural area where I walked to my local school and I was able to keep a horse. I lived there until I headed off to college.
My older brother and sister HATED moving to the country. Leaving the city was so painful for them. But for me, it was the coolest thing in the world. What I find so funny is that as an adult, I'm perfectly happy living in big cities (NYC, San Fran, Chicago), but I also love the tiny beach town where I currently reside.
All-important, those different experiences in my childhood make me more aware of setting and how it affects characters. Setting can BE a character.
Thanks for making me stop and think!
--Amy
Amy,
Yes, setting absolutely can be a character.
I'd continued to think about this whole topic, and your post tied in to what I was thinking: it's interesting that two people from the same family or just two people from the same town can have such different reactions to the same place.
I think a lot of it has to do with personality, too--which is why it's so fascinating to create our characters and give them hometowns and histories. Like humans, no two characters are alike!
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
I grew up in the town limits of Hot Springs. I was city girl all the way. THEN when I married, hubs and I moved from the city limits of Memphis waayyy out into the county. Lived on 4 acres. Moved to Little Rock, outside city limits, on 5+ acres. Now, I live back in the Hot Springs area, but again, I'm out in the county. I have neighbors, which is a new experience for me. But they aren't close (physically)
I've gotten used to privacy. I've gotten used to quiet nights. I'm not crazy about crowds.
So, put me in the county mouse column! I'd never make it in NYC or Atlanta or Dallas.
Cyndi,
I'd imagine the move to the country was a bit of a culture shock for you. LOL It's nice to know that you adapted to it so well.
I'm not crazy about crowds, either, so the country life would be a draw for that reason.
Thanks for stopping by!
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
I grew up in the city of Milwaukee, but I've been living in a rural area for a long time. Though I like this area, every once in awhile I get jealous of people who can walk to stores and don't have to drive a car to get places.
I'm definitely a city mouse, Barbara :)
Which might seem surprising, given that I grew up in a rural area near a smallish (p. 100,000) city.
If I ever won one of those humongous lotteries - which isn't going to happen because I never buy tickets! - the first thing I'd buy is an apartment in Manhattan.
Edie,
The green-eyed monster hits me, too.
The town I lived in before this, we could walk to the convenience store, pharmacy, bank, pizzeria, etc., etc., etc. Now, the only thing in walking distance for me is a gas station! LOL
But since we use so much gas to drive to everywhere we need, we're usually driving--not walking--to the gas station to fill the tank.
Thanks for the fond memory of my good old days. ;-)
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Lee - wow, you're definitely one country mouse who has left her roots behind! ;-)
And I had to LOL on the lottery - I keep telling my husband we just *have* to win. And he keeps saying, yes, but we have to buy tickets first! LOL
Thanks for stopping by.
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
I was born and raised in the city but I am no city girl. I hate the city. The hussle and bustle. The loud noises. The less then friendly people. I'm much more a country girl. As long as I have everything I need. We moved to a smaller town a year ago and I already feel like it's home. The people are friendly. I'm actually joining in on things. Still too populated for me at almost 100,000 people. My ideal place to live would be population 2000 or less. As long as there was a town close by where I could get everything I need.
Cindy,
There's a lot to be said for country life, isn't there?
I hear you, though, on being able to get what you need. I'd feel the same way.
I'd like the idea of privacy, but not feeling as if I were cut off from civilization. LOL
Thanks for dropping in!
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Hi Barb
I am a city mouse, born in the country, and before I could even walk well (3 yrs old) we moved to the city. I'd love to win lottery and move to Manhattan myself!!!
Judith
Hi, Judith,
Thanks for stopping by. Sounds like there are a few of us who would like to win the lottery. I really *may* have to break down and buy some tickets. ;-)
I'm glad you wound up where you wanted to be, in a city.
Best,
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
I live close to a medium-sized city in upstate New York, but my school district was pretty small. I grew up partly in a residential community and then moved into the country with my family as a teenager. I found the country very isolating, but it was beautiful. As an adult, I've chosen to live in a residential area, mostly because of my two children.
Hi Barbara
I was lived on the East side of Detroit until high school when we moved to the burbs. I still live in the same area with my hubby and kids. I often wondered what it would have been like to live in a rural area.
Maryanne
Therese - residential areas definitely have their plusses when you're raising kids.
Thinking of what you said about the medium-sized city but small school district...
You know, I think when we're kids, we *could* live in a huge city but never realize it because our lives are so "small" by comparison--they have a narrower focus. Interesting food for thought. Thanks for posting!
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Maryanne - I agree! I got a taste of the rural life every summer (and many Easter and Christmas breaks) when we'd spend time with my grandparents out in the country in Illinois.
It was a real culture shock for this small-city girl to see wide open spaces--and cornfields!
Once, as we were on our way there, about twenty or so miles away, we actually saw a tornado. And what did I think of, naturally, but The Wizard of Oz?
Thanks for triggering a couple of old memories.
Barbara
http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com
Thanks for sharing this nice question ,which help us grow himself...more question included there...
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Robert
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