Wow. It has been quite awhile since I have been on here. I can't believe it has been 6 years since we made the move to Utah. What were we thinking? Our families and friends thought we were nuts. I am convinced some didn't even really know where Utah was. It was "somewhere over there". This from people who live all over the country.
I did my research and tried to come up with things to support the move other than our joy at leaving smog, traffic and time spent in traffic inhaling smog. So to my Jewish Mother (JM) I mentioned that we could go to the Symphony during the summer outdoors at a ski resort and the Ballet during the winter in the Big City. That sold her. My mother beat me to the punch and had a list of the great restaurants in our little town, information about the Catholic Parish and the numbers of all of her friends who own vacation homes here. We convinced both of them that we weren't moving off the grid or away from civilization aka the Unabomber. Or that the Unabomber would be our neighbor for that matter. Like all good mothers, they both spread the word to everyone else. Those who weren't sure were willing to support our 'alternative lifestyle'. Interesting choice of words since we didn't know that bigamy, oops polygamy, is apparently alive and well in certain rural parts of this state.
After we moved here it was definitely an adjustment. What do you mean no Chinese food delivery? Wait, no Chinese food or food delivery for that matter? Where is the valet parking station at Nordstrom? Umm, actually - where is Nordstrom? And what is PC time and why does that mean we have to wait all day for a guy who is coming to finish painting when he said he'd be here at 9. According to the painter he said 9 ish which meant noon and lunch. We definitely had some adjustments to make. To us, not Utah.
Somehow we convinced C, the Bonus Boy, to join us here. He was a trooper and actually, he and I share more stories about year 1 than the SO and I do. The Bonus Boy tagged along on many adventures in finding grocery stores, drycleaners and colleges for him. As payback I drove him when he was looking for a certain tatoo shop in the Big City down the canyon as well as a reputable "piercer" for his nose. And no, that last thing never happened. We tried to navigate the slopes together and he was a saint one day at a certain ski resort while helping me with my yard sale (ski term). Naturally he got Child of the Year that year. His sisters still don't understand it.
It was a learning curve to be sure. First of all, the if/then algorythm that applied to liquor at the time. State liquor stores and their strange hours; club memberships and the Wall of Zion required in restaurants to shield diners from seeing the creation and pouring of libations. Don't get me started on the state holidays that cause everything to shut down. Life is rough if you don't have access to one of those special calendars. And when you move here with dogs from out of state that need to be licensed the first time you license them you have to drive to the County Seat and do it in person. (Yes, we are a rarity; we license our dogs.) The directions I was given to get there included passing The Spring Chicken Inn and some ranch whose name escapes me. This was a far cry from Southern California or any of my prior life except maybe college.
We bought the gas guzzling four wheel drive vehicles much to the chagrin of our so-called support group. They became believers after visiting us during the winter and trying to navigate our driveway in rental cars. Over the years the liquor laws have become more user friendly. And we now get pizza delivered. A new Nordstrom opened and when I went to their pre-opening Gala they had valet parking. The dog licensing is done at the vets and painters, among others, actually show up when they say they are going to.
So here we are six years later pondering potentially a move which I was game for until I started thinking about how great living here has been. You see, Utah is the type of state where you can get involved and actually make a difference. Today I shared a lunch table with a gubernatorial candidate and some very successful business people. (I still am not sure how I fit in, I am thinking I was there as the entertainment.) He is an engaging and terrific guy, very earnest about the quality of life in this state and improving it for the citizens. We talked about community needs and our interests in the community. The group talked about how tough it is to run or own a business in this economic environment. And we talked about family. Which took me back to my own and their support for this life the SO and I have made here. Now, when they bring up Utah and their wishes to move here we really enjoy hearing the envy in their voices. It is our home, not a home away from home but our home.
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