My Town
I don't want my town to change.
The sunsets are amazing. There are four seasons. In 45 minutes you can be in the mountains skiing, or boating on the Snake or Columbia River.
Raising children was easy here. There are elementary schools in every neighborhood. The town hosts a Community College, an award winning liberal arts college, and a parochial college that is becoming a University. There are many extracurricular activities such as sports, theater, and art.
The availability of health care, housing, public transportation, and a quiet life are amenities that attract older people.
A city water park was voted down on election day. I voted for it because because I think it would be a great diversion for the children, and I planned on taking my grand kids there when they came to visit. I knew it would raise my taxes, but that's a given in all areas with the change in the government.
Crime has been on the rise and everyone has his/her theory on that. I'll leave that one alone.
This fall my town was chosen by Money Magazine as one of the top five places
in the United States to retire. This picture was one that accompanied the article. (They probably didn't mention that all the streets need repair.)
In the spring, summer and fall all the downtown eateries have tables on the sidewalks. Starbucks and two other coffee stops keep their tables out all winter and they are always full (unless it's 10 below, which happens occasionally.)
The local newspaper has a series of articles planned that will cover the changes, good and bad, and how the valley is adapting. The hubby mentioned the other day how we couldn't afford our house if we were moving into town today. The newspaper article mentioned the very same thing. The price of housing has gone up rapidly in the past couple of years. The bad news is we're close to retirement age. The good news is if we decide to retire here we don't have to worry about buying a house we can't afford.
We fell in love here, married, reared three daughters, kept our house in good repair, and flowed with the way of this valley. We have extended families where we work, where we play, and where we gather for church. It has been and is a wonderful place to live.
I don't want my town to change.
The sunsets are amazing. There are four seasons. In 45 minutes you can be in the mountains skiing, or boating on the Snake or Columbia River.
Raising children was easy here. There are elementary schools in every neighborhood. The town hosts a Community College, an award winning liberal arts college, and a parochial college that is becoming a University. There are many extracurricular activities such as sports, theater, and art.
The availability of health care, housing, public transportation, and a quiet life are amenities that attract older people.
A city water park was voted down on election day. I voted for it because because I think it would be a great diversion for the children, and I planned on taking my grand kids there when they came to visit. I knew it would raise my taxes, but that's a given in all areas with the change in the government.
Crime has been on the rise and everyone has his/her theory on that. I'll leave that one alone.
This fall my town was chosen by Money Magazine as one of the top five places
in the United States to retire. This picture was one that accompanied the article. (They probably didn't mention that all the streets need repair.)In the spring, summer and fall all the downtown eateries have tables on the sidewalks. Starbucks and two other coffee stops keep their tables out all winter and they are always full (unless it's 10 below, which happens occasionally.)
The local newspaper has a series of articles planned that will cover the changes, good and bad, and how the valley is adapting. The hubby mentioned the other day how we couldn't afford our house if we were moving into town today. The newspaper article mentioned the very same thing. The price of housing has gone up rapidly in the past couple of years. The bad news is we're close to retirement age. The good news is if we decide to retire here we don't have to worry about buying a house we can't afford.
We fell in love here, married, reared three daughters, kept our house in good repair, and flowed with the way of this valley. We have extended families where we work, where we play, and where we gather for church. It has been and is a wonderful place to live.
I don't want my town to change.
Comments
It probably will...
I'm amazed every time I return to a previous town I've lived in (there are a few;))
If it's been a while, I find huge changes. Like I have to exit now to get into town. I used to just turn left.
Wierd.
I know what you mean. Sounds like a great place. Maybe you could just put a "closed" sign at the entrance to town?
Your town sounds like a great place to live though!
:)
On the flip side... we dont have a mortgage in Florida thanks to them! *wink
cheers! K
When I went back to my hometown (totally country small town) a few years ago I found that they'd opened up a Starbucks. I cried and I can't explain why.
As much as I looked forward to leaving, I still look forward to coming back. It will always be my home... so many friends, so many memories both good and bad. If you and dad ever sold your house, I think I would die! I would, at the very least, cry a whole bunch.
And I remember the sunsets. I remember driving up in the hills and watching the sun set over the valley. It was one of Jordan's favorite things, sunsets. And that town certainly has some beautiful ones.
Change IS inevitable, but some things would be better left alone.
What a sweet post though. I can imagine how you feel even though I grew up in the Suburbs of S.F. and there is no way that it would qualify as small or quaint. It was still *home* and when I see it changing it's like part of my childhood is gone.
Nan
Now that I'm an adult - I don't want it to grow and lose its quaintness and sweetness.
The wine industry has done some fabulous things for the area - but also, turned it into something it was never meant to be.
When I go back to my childhood hometown, I'm floored by the change! It was an idyllic place to grow up, but now the pace seems so much faster!
A lovely tribute to the place you call "home" :).