Update on John Day: Population Approx. 1,500
Some people ask me how I like living here and I really don't know what to tell them. I like the mountains, the trees and the low traffic volume. I like thinking ahead to when my kids enter high school, knowing their absences will be announced on the local radio station, KJDY (no playing hookie for them!) I like that the banking staff call me by name and don't require a deposit slip. I like that my husband works about three minutes away, and that, actually, everything is about three minutes away: grocery store, bank, thrift store, church. It's true that small, rural communities are simpler than big cities. Things are very different than Cleveland: population 800,000.
But, there's a part of me that dislikes several aspects of small town life. I don't like the limited shopping (I couldn't find any Batman underwear while recently potty-training my own Batman, so I sewed on homemade Batman logos onto all of his underwear). We are three hours away from civilization (aka: Target, Costco, Wal-Mart), so when the dry cleaning truck breaks down, it's three weeks before you get your clean clothes back. And if you happen to miss the FedEx guy, you have to drive to a warehouse in Bend, Oregon, which is, you guessed it, 3 hours away.
And, when I just need a break from the chaos of it all, there is no where to go, except if you count the grocery (open until 9 PM) or the library (only open 2 nights a week, with about half the books Western paperbacks). Sometimes I still think I can just zoom to Target and browse the new stuff in home decor, but then I am really disappointed when I realize that I now live here, and there is nothing of the sort anywhere nearby.
And when I get thinking this way, I start feeling too materialistic, like I am not focusing on the stuff that really matters. It's a fine line I walk.
So, in response to that question, "So, how do you like it here?" I guess I should just say in a Russian accent, "Feevty-feevty." That's what it is for me right now, fifty-fifty.
Some people ask me how I like living here and I really don't know what to tell them. I like the mountains, the trees and the low traffic volume. I like thinking ahead to when my kids enter high school, knowing their absences will be announced on the local radio station, KJDY (no playing hookie for them!) I like that the banking staff call me by name and don't require a deposit slip. I like that my husband works about three minutes away, and that, actually, everything is about three minutes away: grocery store, bank, thrift store, church. It's true that small, rural communities are simpler than big cities. Things are very different than Cleveland: population 800,000.
But, there's a part of me that dislikes several aspects of small town life. I don't like the limited shopping (I couldn't find any Batman underwear while recently potty-training my own Batman, so I sewed on homemade Batman logos onto all of his underwear). We are three hours away from civilization (aka: Target, Costco, Wal-Mart), so when the dry cleaning truck breaks down, it's three weeks before you get your clean clothes back. And if you happen to miss the FedEx guy, you have to drive to a warehouse in Bend, Oregon, which is, you guessed it, 3 hours away.
And, when I just need a break from the chaos of it all, there is no where to go, except if you count the grocery (open until 9 PM) or the library (only open 2 nights a week, with about half the books Western paperbacks). Sometimes I still think I can just zoom to Target and browse the new stuff in home decor, but then I am really disappointed when I realize that I now live here, and there is nothing of the sort anywhere nearby.
And when I get thinking this way, I start feeling too materialistic, like I am not focusing on the stuff that really matters. It's a fine line I walk.
So, in response to that question, "So, how do you like it here?" I guess I should just say in a Russian accent, "Feevty-feevty." That's what it is for me right now, fifty-fifty.
4 comments:
I know exactly what you mean! We live in small town Idaho.. and love it except for the shopping and the once a year I would really like to go to Olive garden.. well its a long drive! but I think you are right... really how important is endless soup salad and breadsticks! :)
Sarah I love this post. Especially the last part about the russian accent. Are those girls down below russian too? Are there a lot of Russians in your town? Maybe you can recruit Levi down there. Gotta say, I've lived without a Target, Walmart and Costco for almost 6 years now, and its been great, but I ain't sad about the fact that I'll be near one soon. Miss you!
Wow. That would be rough. Some of your pros are awesome. But living 3 hours from a Costco...eek. I guess you just adapt to what your circumstances are. And you are a strong woman, so I know you must make the most of it...even when sometimes you'd rather not.
I liked your blog, too. I liked your factual description. Funny. I look forward to the next installment of "Life in the Sticks".
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