DANVILLE — For Mike Meyer, it was just a matter of time.

Meyer first came to Danville for the Walldogs meet last August and was the team leader for the Chuckles mural. During that week, Meyer and his wife, Eileen, met a lot of people and saw a lot that they liked about the community.

Very different from where he currently lives in Mazeppa, Minn., a town of 700, Meyer warmed to Danville's people, and the wheels started turning about moving to a place that might offer a new set of friends, possibilities for new business locally and a hub from which he could travel to other jobs in Illinois and adjacent states.

"I'm kind of in the middle of running back and forth," Meyer said from his shop in Mazeppa this week. "Finishing up some jobs up here and getting ready to head to Danville again."

Friday, Meyer began repainting the A-7 Corsair plane at Logan Avenue and Main Street, a monument to the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul.

"Danville just has great people," Meyer said. "Walldogs love every town where we do a meet, but Danville definitely had location positives to go with its people, but it really isn't just where it is, it's the people."

Meyer has returned to Danville a few times since the meet, staying with Mike O'Brien and Anne Sacheli, attending the Festival of Trees and other activities, meeting even more people, passing out business cards and taking a look at where he believes his talents would add to various businesses' appeal.

"I wanted to be centrally located among the area where I've already done work and where I hope to do future work, but I wanted to be someplace where I could get involved," Meyer said. "Danville has plenty of that, places and events where I could make a difference."

Meyer has already joined the American Legion and the YMCA and wants to get involved with the new hockey team, the Danville Dashers, he said, adding that he has been setting up his studio in stages.

"I've been thinking about a move for about five years. I turned 50 this year, and I don't know that this is a midlife crisis, but whatever it is, I feel good about it," he said.

So does Sacheli.

"I think it's very exciting. What a statement about our community. He's so optimistic about starting business here and being willing to relocate," she said. "He's rented a place for a shop. He's helping with Walldogs 2.0, and he wants to be involved with the people and the events he's already come in contact with. That's great news for us."

Meyer has hopes of someday starting a school. "I'd like to do workshops on sign painting and lettering on any and all surface and sizes," he said. "I do not want our craft to die."