@cstross my small town has a thriving high street umpteen coffee shops, plus Fromagerie, an ice cream parlour and numerous restaurants, and a greengrocer and three butchers, two bakers! Plus the usual chains. We walk to town most days, to see what's going on. Unfortunately housing is expensive so young people are driven away. Would love to see housing drop in price. But I'm old and decrepit so no one cares what I thin. 😆