We live 2 blocks from downtown Chula Vista, which is just down the road from San Diego. (I call it my overgrown hick town.) In So. Cal, I don't think there really is a small town, but we chose this place because we can walk everywhere if so desired. (Except Joann's, that is 10 miles or so away.) But the LQS is literally 2 blocks from my home.
My husband works for the City so that is what attracted us to the city.
I would prefer to live out in the country but my husband was raised in a city and cannot imagine being to far away from having neighbors, even though he has no idea what their names are. Also my daughters live near us, so moving away is out of the question now.