There are pockets of the NUC that still resemble the 70s and 80s. I stumbled into one Thursday while on a motorcycle riding vacation in Colorado. Riding though Florence (pop 4,000 - 75% white) at lunchtime, I passed a city park with a large shelter and a weekly farmers market in the shade of the adjacent trees. After getting fuel, I decided to go back to the park eat my packed lunch and check out the 20-stall market.
I studied the people carefully. A mom with two under 5’s was packing up her stall. Shorts and t-shirt, with lovely smile, she was aware if where her kids were, and in no way hyperviligent. All age groups were represented in the vendors and customers. I spoke to several vendors who were all easygoing, and happy to engage with me. There were none of the Colorado archtypes like cyclists in skins, rich liberal basic bitches, or stoners. The relaxed vibe and lack of affectation or pretension was to me conspicuous. Refreshing, as well.
The most delightful observation was seeing kids liked up at the adjacent community swimming pool entrance. Holding their towels and shoes, full of anticipation to splash and scream in the water. The city’s noon alarm sounded (still a thing!) and they flowed into the entrance. They were experiencing the same thing in the same way I did as a child 50+ years ago.
I truly love small town America. I have my 45th HS reunion next month. I intend to ask some of my classmates the “what would we have done if we’d stay’d” question. I landed in the big regional city after college. Did not live up to my potential for the first 12 years, but turned things around in the following decades. I’m looking at moving to one of those nearby small towns in a few years.
You're right, the spots do exist - Substack posts aren't the greatest for nuance unfortunately. Where I'm at has aspects beneath layers of superficial dysfunction. It's why one person can have some gravitational effect, however small. I also was slow to launch. Having run into them is partly why I'm more aware of the obstacles in front of the generations younger than me. Building forward followed logically.
The what could have been different is an interesting question. A lot of toxic macro forces were already arrayed against us, but the ability to still make some things happen now indicates there would have been some effect.
There are pockets of the NUC that still resemble the 70s and 80s. I stumbled into one Thursday while on a motorcycle riding vacation in Colorado. Riding though Florence (pop 4,000 - 75% white) at lunchtime, I passed a city park with a large shelter and a weekly farmers market in the shade of the adjacent trees. After getting fuel, I decided to go back to the park eat my packed lunch and check out the 20-stall market.
I studied the people carefully. A mom with two under 5’s was packing up her stall. Shorts and t-shirt, with lovely smile, she was aware if where her kids were, and in no way hyperviligent. All age groups were represented in the vendors and customers. I spoke to several vendors who were all easygoing, and happy to engage with me. There were none of the Colorado archtypes like cyclists in skins, rich liberal basic bitches, or stoners. The relaxed vibe and lack of affectation or pretension was to me conspicuous. Refreshing, as well.
The most delightful observation was seeing kids liked up at the adjacent community swimming pool entrance. Holding their towels and shoes, full of anticipation to splash and scream in the water. The city’s noon alarm sounded (still a thing!) and they flowed into the entrance. They were experiencing the same thing in the same way I did as a child 50+ years ago.
I truly love small town America. I have my 45th HS reunion next month. I intend to ask some of my classmates the “what would we have done if we’d stay’d” question. I landed in the big regional city after college. Did not live up to my potential for the first 12 years, but turned things around in the following decades. I’m looking at moving to one of those nearby small towns in a few years.
You're right, the spots do exist - Substack posts aren't the greatest for nuance unfortunately. Where I'm at has aspects beneath layers of superficial dysfunction. It's why one person can have some gravitational effect, however small. I also was slow to launch. Having run into them is partly why I'm more aware of the obstacles in front of the generations younger than me. Building forward followed logically.
The what could have been different is an interesting question. A lot of toxic macro forces were already arrayed against us, but the ability to still make some things happen now indicates there would have been some effect.