Colorado Natives Fall in Love with Iowa's Own "Mayberry"
RAGBRAI, Iowa's touring bicycle ride, was a "moving" experience for Rich and Reagan Osborne - literally. After living in Loveland, Col., for 15 years, this young couple caught a glimpse of beautiful small-town Iowa during RAGBRAI and just knew they had to move there. "We thought the small towns in Iowa were beautiful and could be just what we were looking for," said Reagan. "They are quaint, yet still so alive."
Among other improvements, the Osbornes wanted more space to grow their own food and live the simple lifestyle they dreamed of. They knew there was no way they could afford land in Colorado unless they moved to the less-than-thrilling plains. "We wanted land without going into debt," Reagan admitted. They found their Jefferson, Iowa, farm property online and had their parents from Omaha, Neb., check it out for them. "We wanted a Mayberry, like from The Andy Griffith Show," Reagan said. "As soon as my parents called and said, 'It's Mayberry,' we knew it was for us." Suddenly, they had moved from a city of 50,000 to Jefferson, Iowa, a small town of only 5,000. "Although it was an adjustment, the transition was wonderful," commented Reagan.
The Osbornes are enjoying the simpler, more modest lifestyle that small-town Iowa has to offer. "We are able to do so much more here than we were able to do in Colorado because we have the space," said Reagan. "Here, you feel like you are doing some good, making a difference in the community and the environment, and we want to promote this simple, small-town lifestyle." Some of the things their family is able to do here to make a difference include supporting the local businesses, recycling, composting, buying used, and even purchasing a truck they will convert to run on vegetable oil.
"The quality of life is so much better here," Reagan explained. "It's not about the stuff anymore. It's the smaller things and the relationships that mean more here." They wanted to be more connected to their community, and that's exactly what they got in small-town Iowa. Rich and Reagan have joined nearly every committee available to them and are enjoying their new neighbors. "Everyone is so welcoming and friendly here; I didn't realize that people could be so nice," she said. The move to Iowa has been good for the couple's eight-year-old-son, Mason, as well. "He loves it here; he has so much more freedom," said Reagan. "We wouldn't let him leave our property in Colorado because there was so much traffic. Here, kids are able to do the normal stuff kids do." The Osbornes have also come to realize one of the other advantages of living in Iowa: there are lower costs for nearly everything.
After nearly a year, the Osbornes continue to love their new life in Iowa and haven't regretted their decision to move once. Reagan commented, "Living in a small town makes you live life more and not simply float through existence. Things don't happen so quickly; you can sit back and enjoy life a little more."
