Hi ! Sounds like you want to escape routine but you're still a bit shy about it. Nothing to be ashamed of, I'm the same and I suspect a lot of people to be like this ! Surely smaller towns will be safer, although I think it depends on your luck and how you use your senses (which is not very hard once you have to use them)
Just to give you an idea, I'm a french lady who traveled for 3 months in the US. At first I didn't get how things worked, what people were saying, etc. It can be hard for the first few weeks, but the truth is... You'll just create a new routine ! Change is scary but it's just like learning a new language : if you don't have choice, you will learn it !
After re-reading your post I wonder if my message is off topic or not... Anyway, my advice is : jump in !