The last time we visited Newmar Corporation (manufacturer of our motorhome) we bought a blank door key so we could have a duplicate made. Home Depot has large stores and a department that makes duplicate keys, so I handed a worker my old key and the new blank key and asked him to duplicate it. He gave a frown, said he would if he could, and fumbled around several minutes. Then he said their key making machine is computerized and the blank key has to fit in one of their standard cassettes. It would not fit and he told me to go somewhere they can duplicate keys the old way - by hand. In Nappanee, Indiana we found Miller's Hardware, an old store in an old building. Could they make me a new key? "Sure, no problem" the young man said. After a couple of minutes he tossed me my new key and said "No charge." The old store with a dark interior and great customer service was much better than the large computerized store with bright lights.

My parents' vacuum cleaner stopped working and they took it to a small local appliance shop for repair. Would they be charged a large amount or told they needed to buy a new vacuum cleaner? A repairman took the broken machine in the back shop and returned with it a few minutes later. He announced, "The belt was broken and I replaced it. You owe me $1.72." Now that was great service.

As we travel across this country we try to avoid large cities and large stores. In a small town cafe in Iowa we got a cooked breakfast with unlimited coffee for $2.00 each. We have never found that price in city restaurants. In small towns we shop in small grocery stories and often have the manager or owner bag our items and offer to carry them to our car.

If you travel across this great country and don't stop and buy in small towns you are missing what America is all about. We think smaller is better.