Look for a Small Town that Meets Your ‘Must Haves’ and Some of Your ‘Would Be Nice’ Items

I enjoyed “Legal Opportunities Abound in Greater Wisconsin” (96 Wis. Law. 14 (Oct. 2023)). I am a small-town attorney who grew up in a city of 3 million people. While in law school, I met my husband who is from a town of roughly 200 residents. When it came time for me to look for my first job, my husband wanted to live in a small town, and I thought, “Why not? It will be a new adventure!” We landed in Baraboo.

One of my favorite quotes is “Life begins outside of your comfort zone.” I was definitely uncomfortable at first. Shortly after we moved, I heard a “whrrr” noise through our open window. My husband told me it was a tractor pull. I had never heard of a tractor pull and thought the only thing being pulled was my leg!

Once I adjusted to small-town life, I found it suits me, both professionally and personally. Professionally, the partnership track is usually shorter. I never lack for clients, and I don’t have to advertise. I have been able to adjust my hours and income to suit the needs of me and my family. My commitment to work-life balance has been supported. I remember a partner at my first firm telling me to go home when he saw me working after 5 p.m.

On a personal level, I like the friendliness and sense of community. I have always enjoyed TV shows set in small towns, like Northern Exposure and Virgin River, because of the way everyone knows and supports each other. I like the fact that my local friends do not consist solely of other professionals. I have known a tattoo artist, a professional clown, and a former educator who became a Buddhist monk. I like the opportunities to get involved – currently I serve on the board of a nonprofit and I am a hospice volunteer.

Recently one of my college friends (an attorney for a retail giant) commented that I have done the best job (out of our group of 6) of playing and having fun. I attribute this to the flexibility I have as a sole practitioner and to the slower pace and family-first culture of Baraboo.

I have had to give up big-city conveniences like 24-hour grocery stores and lattes whenever I want them. But I don’t miss the traffic congestion and constant sirens. When we need a big-city fix, we spend a long weekend in Chicago, Minneapolis, or Milwaukee.

If you are considering moving to a small town: 1) Think of it as an adventure; 2) Make a list of amenities and characteristics you want such as an airport with commercial flights nearby, a respected rural hospital, good schools, places to engage in your hobbies (lakes for fishing, trails for hiking, and so on; 3) Sort your list into “must haves,” “would be nice,” and “can live without.”

Then look for a small town that meets all your “must haves” and some of your “would be nice” items.

Attorney Nancy Thome
Ash Street Law Office LLC, Baraboo