A few things happened to upset me this morning and this article about Sacramento was the biggest one. Before my first cup of coffee it bashed my sensibilities with how the real estate market has created a different social environment and how we as Sacramentans need to "adjust."
Now, don't get me wrong: I have nothing against people from the Bay Area moving to Sacramento. What I have a problem with is the attitude most newcomers have after they move to a different place. And this article epitomizes it for me.
I moved to Sacramento from Bombay (India) in 2001. Yes, it was a huge move. And sure, there were stretches when nothing seemed right, because nothing was the same. It was all new. Everything was different. And I had loved Bombay.
However I took the time to learn all about Sacramento. I learned to drive. Okay, I was also in love with a Sacramentan (who had moved here from the Bay Area himself, by the way) so that helped things along. I started small - book stores I liked, movie theaters I watched movies in, whatever. I made happy memories and went with them. A few years later, I was so in love in Sacramento, I wanted everyone to buy a piece of it, so I started selling real estate.
I didn't however try to mold it to my ex-lifestyle.
I did not brag about how much I loved Bombay.
And - this one really boils my blood - how little there was to do here!
Every city has something to do. You just have to look for it. And adjustment takes time. Sacramento is the result of hundreds of years and cultures and times. It's not going to fall over on its back and change because you think it has no culture and call it a cow-town.
If Sacramentans are blamed for being provincial, what is holding on to your place of origin but disguised provincialism?
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sacramento-Bay Area Debate
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3 comments:
I'm new to 'mento. I just moved here from SF one month ago.
>Frankly, they're a bit too fond
>of suburban McMansions that look
>like they're on steroids.
This and the comuting steriotype utterly fail to describe me.
I rent a house in midtown and work from home. For me the main issues I see with Sacramento are:
* sprawl. I like having stores/resteraunts/coffee shopts within walking distance. There are too few parts of town that allow for this. Having to drive to get around makes me feel sad.
* heat and sun. It gets bloody hot and sunny here. I miss the SF fog.
* limitted techie culture
As you point out this place is not "that place" and must be accepted and dealt with on it's own merits. I'm still learning about Sacramento and I am sure that I will come to appreciate it for what it is.
bogonflux,
I understand what you're saying. I don't like being in Elk Grove because their parking lots drive me mad! And I've decided that (and the traffic) is too much for me to want to live there.
Sacramento is that way too sometimes - and especially lately with the population just jumping so much! Which is why I moved to Pollock Pines. My friends and business are still in Sacto, though and I don't complain about it. Neither do I complain about Pollock Pines not being like Sac.
I just think people need to weigh their options, make their choices and then not whine when things aren't perfect.
Welcome, by the way! And sorry for the rant. :) It just drives me nuts when people whine after making their choices. The heat drives me nuts too - if you buy a house (hint, hint) make sure it has central air.
As for the Bay area, I'll take our air and our traffic over theirs any day. Yes, they have more to do, if you can stand to sit and wait in a line of cars to go do it.
Sacramento summers are definitely our worst feature. Nothing makes me want a second home in Oregon like a Sacramento summer.
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