I have always lived locally. Born in my Grandmother's house, because my parents only had a room and kitchen with shared outside toilet, we soon moved to a prefab, 3 doors down from my Granny. When I married we had 3 rental properties locally in rapid succession, then 46 years ago we moved, with toddler and baby into this house. which was very run down. We renovated and extended, brought up our DDs here and after Uni and city living they both moved back nearby to raise their families.
DH has recently moved to a Care Home 5 minutes walk away in the village and I have found that I know most of the staff and the other residents. Three of our neighbours have been here even longer than us, DGD1 has just started at my old High School, while DGS has started at the High School his Mum and Aunt attended. I love being part of a real community, where I have known many people since childhood although some of my closest friends in the village have 'only' been here 10 or 20 years. They all say they would never want to live anywhere else.