I love Ripon in small doses--but then I've not really had to live there full-time save for one summer, and most of my US life is far more fondly remembered at a distance.

...I wonder if your friend knows my parents, grandparents, or further extended family, to be honest. It wouldn't shock me, the town's small enough and my grandparents get around (so does my dad in a rather different way, sigh).