The way things change
Friday, July 6, 2007 12:33 PM PDT
You can never go back! I don’t know who said it, but I believe they’re right. As some of the three or four of you who read this column know, my wife and I have moved around in our 36 years of marriage.
I’m closing in on my 10th year here at the Argus Observer, and this will tie a 10-year stint in Arizona and Louisiana. We did two years in California and two in Alaska. I’ve returned to those communities over the years, and it still amazing to me how they all have changed. Most of it is the growth, and of course, the fact that our memories play little tricks on the way we recall things.
It’s not surprising Arizona has changed, with it being such a long time period away and a huge increase in population. Since I left, Californians have discovered the, then small, community of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and now it is no longer small.
Last year I took a business trip to Sierra Vista. First off, the 30-mile highway leading from Interstate 10 to the city is now five lanes. It was two when I left. The last day I was there, I took the rental car for a little spin to look up my old home. I did that without any problem but managed to turn into a new subdivision and immediately lost my bearings. It was a good thing the mountain range helped me find my way back to the hotel. Even the golf course I had played on for 10 years looked different. Most of that was because of all the new homes that now that surround course. The shopping mall that had been rumored for years was now expanding. The empty lots on the main roads were now fastfood restaurants and gas stations with mini-grocery stores. Some of the changes were excellent, and others did nothing for improving the new look of Sierra Vista. Its strongest asset is the weather. It may have the best climate of all the places I’ve lived. Our house was at 4,500 feet elevation, which made for mild winters and not so hot summers. I did miss the change of seasons and lack of big trees with leaves that change into beautiful colors like we have here.
The most drastic move was going from Arizona to Alaska. No brainer there. Summers in Alaska are without peer.
Unfortunately, they are too short. I’ve described them many times in this column. Last year we had the opportunity to return there for a week, (and it was in the summer). The changes in Wasilla, again due to the growth, were amazing! Like Arizona, I almost could not believe the difference the years make.
We did get a chance to spend some time with our Alaska friends. One afternoon we had lunch and a couple of adult beverages on the deck of the Mat-Su Lodge. It was something we did many times in the two years we lived there. It was a perfect 70 degrees, and the lake was a beautiful blue. It was a nice visit, and most likely our last.
I’ll save the other locations for a later date. My reason to write about the places we lived came after seeing all the class reunions that were being held at the Scotch Pines Golf course this summer. Seems like they host one or two every couple weeks. Because of time (and money) I have attended very few. The last one I went to was my 25th, and I discovered I have very little in common with my former classmates. Seems like people like it so much here they have no reason to leave. Why move when you have a good place to live? Now we’ve added some roots, and have no desire to move again.
Have a great weekend, and keep it in play.
Steve Krehl is the publisher of the Argus Observer. He can be reached at stevek@ argusobserver.com
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