Taking a Hike

During my final quarter at UCSB, the quarter when I was completing my undergraduate honors thesis, I commuted two hours each way to Santa Barbara twice a week to meet with my professor. I had been offered a job in my hometown and it required starting in January, before the completion of my degree, so I worked three days a week and made the long commute to college the other two. Every week I would check out books on tape from the meager selection at my local library to make the commute time worthwhile.

One night--I remember this clearly--I was driving back home, down Highway 101, listening to Dr. Phil on tape. He was discussing living by design--that is, taking accountability for your life, deciding what you want, and then making it happen. Dr. Phil was taped while talking to a live audience and he asked the audience this question: "How many of you live in the town you grew up in?" By the sound of his voice I could tell that a majority of the audience had raised their hands. "What if," he asked then, "your town really sucks?"

Something about that line really stuck with me. I had just moved back home after living in two amazing cities--Santa Barbara and Washington, DC--and compared to those two place, my hometown did really suck. For me. I receive a lot of flak for wanting to move out of my hometown in the Antelope Valley--even more so now that I am actually starting to pack up my crap--and even though I definitely don't feel obligated to explain my reasons for moving, I am going to do it anyway. This is mainly for the people who can't understand why we would move, the people who think we are snobby and vainglorious, and the people who think we are AV haters. Which we are, but only because we have different values. Not better, just different.

After the jump, some of the reasons we are moving away and some of the reasons we probably won't move back.

I want to further my education and I ain't gonna commute to do it, yo.

I don't want to drive a car. In Santa Barbara, I used a bike; in DC, I used my feet and occasionally the Metro. Biking and public transportation are better for the environment, yes, but also, I simply hate to drive. I hate to get gas. I hate to wash my car. I hate to get an oil change and a smog check. More than that, I want to live in town where it is common to bike and walk. If you try to walk in the Antelope Valley, on the rare day that the weather cooperates, people will honk and whistle and gawk as though they have never seen a person using their feet as a mode of transportation.

I want to live in a town that values education as much as I do. Davis is rated the second most educated city in America by Money magazine. In Davis, reading test scores are 67% above the national average, math test scores are 55% above the national average. In my current hometown, the scores are 17% below the national average in reading and 31% below the national average for math. And, honestly, you can tell. For my husband's sake--and for my children's, should I ever have any--a public school system that is among the best in the state makes a difference to me.

I want to live in a place that is a little more liberal and a little less conservative. For my sanity.

I want to live in a place where bookstores outnumber the Walmarts. Better yet, I want to live in a place where the city council refuses to let a Walmart move in. Just a personal preference. Not better, remember, just different.

I want to live is a place that is safe, especially during the time in my life when I will be using a bicycle as my main mode of transportation. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being the safest, my current town rates at a 6 for violent crimes. Davis rates at a 2.

Compared to Lancaster, Davis has half as many people, but twice as many restaurants. There's a twice weekly farmer's market with local produce and fresh flowers. The air quality is 150% better and the crime is 100% lower (I don't make this stuff up, there are statistics that say so). There are lots of art galleries and public art displays and an arboretum. It is a small town, but it is sophisticated with boutique shops, ethnic eateries, and full service spas.

I'd keep going, but it is starting to sound like I am rubbing it in. It's certainly not a perfect place--there are no art museums, for one thing--but it is going to be home. And for us, it is going to be better.

Yesterday, as I was driving through Lancaster, a man in the truck next to me honked his horn at the lady in front of him who was not paying attention to the light, which had turned green. The women immediately rolled down her window and proceeded to flip the man off (long acrylics, of course) for the good part of a quarter mile. I could only laugh. And count the days.

Somehow, this scene reminds me of the first day we drove to Davis to check it out. The farmer's market was going on and a million kids were running around the park while their mothers filled the baskets on their beach cruisers with fruits and vegetables. There was a little league game going on across the street and all the European-style outdoor tables at Crepeville were full of happy people drinking lattes.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Will happily asked. "Is this fucking Anytown, USA or what?"

"Yep." I replied. "But with a Gap. And you're probably going to have to clean up your language. We ain't in Lancaster no mo'."

Comments

[Lauren]

You don't have to say it but I will!!! It's better Y'all!! When I go home I fear for my life. I cannot believe I was raised in that Hell hole, futhermore....I can't believe my grandparents still live there. Theres nothing like watching the news and hearing Gun shots in the distance.

[Right Brained Gal]

I've been to Lancaster and I've been to Davis. You will be so much happier living and going to Law School in Davis. I'm really happy for you and Will.

PS. Had the best Thai food at a fabulous Thai restaurant there - don't know the name, but you will find it. Just look for the crowd outside the door.

[Chris]

If you find this perfect city, one of liberalism, good public transportation, smart people and low crime, please please please let me know. But don't tell anyone else!

[rachel]

It sounds fabulous.
I love Baltimore and we have a great home/life but it is violent (hello- we got an 8 on that crime scale!) but some times I wonder what it would be like to live somewhere else.

[Janelle]

The Thai place I assume Right Brained Girl is referring to is called Sophia's. It also has a bar with $2 Tuesdays (I think that's the correct day, it's been awhile), so it's very popular for that.

[Lissa]

I really loved this post. When I moved from Texas to NYC everyone I know seemed to ask me why and with such disdain in their voice too.

Sometimes there is this feeling that is inside you that you just need to go out and do something and your right it's not better it's just different. I ended up moving back to Texas and although I don't think I will be here forever, I understand what you are saying and I wish you the best of luck in your new home town.

[sara]

This place has so much more to offer than a variety of hunting seasons and months of frozen misery. Compared to where I moved from, Lancaster was a few steps up. If only I didn't have to go into the AV mall to get DQ.

[Shea]

Davis is one of my favorite cities EVER. Downtown is adorable and everyone bikes everywhere and there's fun nightlife... When I was going to school in Sac-town, we went there all the time. You guys will LOVE it. Congrats! Heck, I moved to Kansas and no one gets that. You've got one up on me there...

[Lesli LeJeune]

Janet, I LOVED this post. You just put into words everything I think a place to live should be. Davis sounds like an amazingly cool place & I know you will be very happy there. Enjoy! I look forward to hearing more about Davis.

Lesli

[Zandria]

I think these are great reasons for wanting to move. Davis sounds like a great place! And of course you know it's not going to be perfect, but it's a lot different from the A.V., that's for sure. :)

[s'mee]

"I want to live in a place where bookstores outnumber the Walmarts. Better yet, I want to live in a place where the city council refuses to let a Walmart move in."

I too enjoyed this post. I live in the lovely high desert also, only further east in the other "AV". No culture, no desire, nothing motivating or stimulating save the building of more homes that invite more people to move in "because it's cheaper up here."

Our town took one of the best piecesof property and allowed The Evil Empire to build their mega store on it. Add the Empire's Gy-freakin-normous distribution center on the outskirts of town and the constant build up of prisons and well, I am so wanting to move.

Yes, I'll say it: I AM a snob. I want a home, not a house. I want a neighborhood, not a hood. I want to associate with folks who know the benefit of live theatre and why having more books stores is a plus.

If I knew where you lived I'd come help you pack. I am seriously jealous and hope to be in your shoes soon.

[Me]

I wish you the best of luck with the move. You are doing the right thing for you and your husband at the right time in your life. Davis sounds like it has everything you need (except an art gallery) and want.

[kathryn]

its just that for the people you are leaving behind who have made the AV their home your word may come across kinda harsh.
maybe even prentencious.
thats all.
and I am going to miss you everyday.
BUT YES! thankfully its only a 5 hour drive
but it wont be the same.
I love you Janet.

[kathryn]

its just that for the people you are leaving behind who have made the AV their home your words may come across kinda harsh.
maybe even prentencious.
thats all.
and I am going to miss you everyday.
BUT YES! thankfully its only a 5 hour drive
but it wont be the same.
I love you Janet.
and I love WIll too.
I wish you guys werent goign anywhere and would stay in this shithole town with the rest of us so we can BBQ.

[kathryn]

oh shit look at that.
I added some stuff.

[Katrina]

Good for you.
Don't raise kids in Lancaster.
All the reasons you wrote are why I INSISTED we move out of East Palmdale. Hubby is married to his job [snicker] so we couldn't go far but Acton/Agua Dulce beats Lancaster/Palmdale. At least so far.
Today I smelled manure when I went outside. I Love It!
I'm crazy, I know, but Santa Clarita doesn't seem so far anymore and I go there for all the stuff you mentioned.
Oh. But I still love Wal-Mart. heh heh (HEY! I have five kids! You try clothing/feeding/paper-supplying/toy-ing that many kidlets on one (blue-collar) salary!)
I just don't want to live across the street from it.
Oh. Yes. And I'm a snob too.
:::sigh:::
We are building on Grandma's property and I'm so happy I could froth like a latte! I tell everyone I'm gonna die in that house!
Good luck to you and Congrats on getting outta here! lol