Everyone wants to live in a town like Mayberry, even if just for a little while.

For some of the actors who spent years working in the fictional community on The Andy Griffith Show, the appeal of small-town life went beyond the television screen. After spending so much time in Mayberry, it was hard to leave the town behind when the series ended.

Francis Bavier came surprisingly close to making that dream a reality. Bavier spent years playing Aunt Bee, becoming one of the most recognizable members of the Mayberry community throughout the show's run.

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Away from the cameras, however, she had her own ideas about what kind of life she wanted. According to an interview with The Flint Journal, Bavier enjoyed her experience on the series so much that she seriously considered putting down roots in a small town of her own.

"I almost put money down on an old house in Siler City, N.C.," Bavier said. "But the real estate man knew I was acting impulsively and made me think it over."

Ultimately, Bavier decided not to purchase the house, but her affection for small-town living never seemed to fade. 

"I do believe in many ways it's a better life in a small town," Bavier said. "But I worry whether you always have to be politic and polite. I think it takes skill to live in a small town, and you have to tread very gently."

Bavier's interest in a quieter life also reflected the way she viewed her fame.

Rather than becoming consumed by the glitz and glamour that came with appearing on one of television's most beloved sitcoms, she seemed to value having a life that existed outside of the spotlight. 

"Television means nobody has any awe of actors today," Bavier said. "Perhaps because we're appearing in people's homes."