>Sounds like London
>
>My brother lives in a small village and knows and sees many people.
>
>I live in London and know virtually no-one outside family.

Except Virginia Beach isn't a megalopolis. Belgrade is, and our daughter, during her frequent trips there, has met just as many people and heard so many stories from them as we did here.

>BTW on the beers I thought the US had a lot of startup micro breweries giving more choice . (I seem to remember reading that somewhere)

I really don't have a habit of going out of my way to get a drink. So what's available in the nearest 2-3 supermarkets, is my choice. They had only Starr Hill there, and I actually know the place (Charlottesville, where we lived before), and what they had on location was good. What they sell in retail is fancy shmancy, interesting taste... and definitely American, IOW not something I have in mind when I want a beer. Stubborn European, so I am.