Life in a Northern CA Town

Living in a small town…working in a big city. I’d always pretty much been a city girl, other than the occasional camping trips with the family when younger, and camping aka debauchery drunk fests when older. It seems that city living is getting more and more impersonal, unless you live in New York/Chicago/San Francisco with the “cells” of ethnic life teaming with good natured people.

I was getting tired of congestion, mean-spirited a-holes, and air that you can cut with a knife, the challenge of driving without getting dinged, etc. When the opportunity came to move to a small down and take on a big commute….I took it! I live in a mountain community where when you walk down the street, people wave to you (what a concept). I live in a town that shuts down their main street for the 4th of July parade, or for a fund-raiser to help a child with cancer. They’ll put out huge hay-bales to sit on, bring in a band, cook up a mean dinner, and there’s dancing in the street.

In my small town, little league is big! As is any Jr. High and High school sporting event. Everyone cheers on the home team…and everyone cheers on the opposing team when we spot a brilliant play, we don’t discriminate. No one boos the opposing team. I get regular visits from my local Boy Scout “Justin” to buy popcorn, or some Christmas wrapping paper, etc. and from my local Girl Scout “Sara” for the Girl Scout cookies.

Remember, I’m a commuter, so I traverse the mountain road regularly to get to highway 80. If I break down, someone will pull over to help me, just as I pull over to help others. I even give hitchhikers a ride into the mountain town, because they’re generally small town people who had a bit of bad luck with their vehicles, etc. or lack thereof.

I wake up to the smell of pine and the sound of deer steps in the leaves as they make their way to the pond to get a drink of water. I am so effing lucky!

The nice thing is, I still get into town for Sushi, and a good Italian restaurant. I still go to movies, as they’re not too far away. I still get together with good friends and share a cup of tea and some yummy goodies at “An Afternoon to Remember” (a spectacular tea shoppe in Newcastle). I get the best of both worlds until I retire and decide what the hell it is I want to do, and where I want to live…which won’t be for a long while (damn the bad luck…unless the Lotto comes through).

But let me say this…after living in a small town, I’ll retire to one too. I’m hoping Tahoe…if I can pull it off. If not, I’ll be just as happy where I am.