Just wondering after reading the "Roll Call" thread if anyone else lives in an area where the city is growing like mad. Just this morning I was driving out to my dad's farm and really noticed all the changes.

First was the new regional airport. Only been here less than 2 years and has already surpassed its 5+ year passenger goal. It is built where there used to be some beautiful pasture land. All the land around it is sold or for sale and they have started developing a lot of it. I hate to see these old family places disappear, but like I told my kids, with land values and taxes, these people can make more money selling than they ever would working the land. I hate that it is this way.

In the 4 years we have been on our 30 acres, 3 new subdivisions have built up down the road. With it have come a new shopping center, grocery store, Dollar General and convenience center. To most of the city people we still live in the country, but I'm beginning to feel a bit suffocated. Anybody else have this problem?

-- Ivy in NW AR (balch84@cox-internet.com), October 12, 2001

Answers

Yes Ivy I feel the same way!! We lived in a very rural area. When I was in school people would call you a boonie or a hick when you said you live in Mandarin but Lord not now "Oh YOU live in Mandarin?" Like it's some big deal, yes this is where all the "rich" people live now and we are considered "White Trash" cause we have animals etc...

-- Sandy(N.E.FL.) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), October 12, 2001.

Around here the worst thing is that when a big farm goes up for sale it is split into small lots. While this is very good for those who want a few acres, it is just hard to see all these old family farms split up. The coal mines have bought many farms and when they are through they auction in parcels. Also we are seeing people build in the most impossible places! On the sides of big hills, places with no yards, with hard to maintain roads. I guess people want to get out in the country. Makes me glad I already have my place. We have been offered a lot of money for our place, but I don't think we could find anything close to what we have. By the time our kids grow up I wonder what will be left for them to buy?

-- Melissa (me@home.net), October 12, 2001.

I've not yet built on my eleven acres and I'm seeing 'progress' right down the road already. My land is on an old state highway that has spawned a large, higher-end apartment complex, a new truck stop (replacing an old corner station), a tire dealer, a dealer auto auction and a residential subdivision all within a mile and a quarter of my drive.

I'm in litigation over an adjacent twenty-seven acres and had been waiting to see what comes of that to determine where I'd build. I'd thought I'd build on that land rather than on the eleven acres I now have. Actually, the two places I'm talking about are within 100 yards but I prefer the site across what is now the property line because of the topography. Now I'm looking at it differently.

I'm now thinking if I get paid what I'm owed and don't have to foreclose on the larger parcel, I'm more likely to build. If I end up with thirty-eight acres I'm thinking that if I build whatever I spend to do so is almost totally wasted.

With a new subdivision within half a mile now, I'm of the opinion some developer will want a thirty-eight acre tract. I'm equally convinced that whatever they pay won't be at all affected by whether or not I spent $100,000 building a home they'll likely bulldoze anyhow.

Heck, I'm not even moved in yet and I'm already talking about being displaced. I guess the good news would be that 'suburban development' dollars will buy more 'rural home' acreage further down the road. ;o)

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), October 13, 2001.

Gary,

I can't help reading your name and location in print and not "singing" it. Music Man is one of my favorite musicals.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), October 14, 2001.