Fresno: It Could Be Worse

So there is a grass roots campaign going on here in Fresno…apparently as a city we are quite a joke in the eyes of the rest of the country. Other cities look down their collective noses and sneer at us, making jokes and empowering themselves to feel far superior to our “backwoods ways.” There is a group of local Fresnans working to change all that…and they’re taking to Facebook to do it. It’s called 31 Days of Fresno, and I think that it is a pretty good idea.

Sure – living in Fresno can be a bummer sometimes. Heck, I’m getting pretty disenchanted with California as a whole lately. But really...Fresno isn’t all that bad. I’ve lived in quite a few places over the past decade, and Fresno isn’t too bad. Really!

So I plan to participate in the campaign. I’ll post something new every day in January about Fresno and why it’s not such a bad place to live. Then I’ll come back to this blog posting and update it with my daily reason as to why Fresno isn’t so bad after all.

Okay…maybe 31 reasons might be a stretch. I’ve been brainstorming and have only come up with 15 reasons so far. But as I see it, I’m almost half-way there, and that gives me two weeks to think of 16 more reasons as to why Fresno isn’t so bad. Stay with me…maybe I can do this after all.

1. Location, Location, Location! Fresno may not have an awful lot to offer in the immediate vicinity, but we’ve got so much to offer nearby! I’ll go into more detail in other reasons as to why Fresno isn’t so bad…but let’s just leave this reason at this: We’re almost in the middle of the state. That means that we’re already half-way there when we want to go somewhere else! As I see it, that’s pretty darned convenient.

2. Moderate winters. I like that we can see the snow from where we are, and should we be feeling daring and adventurous, we can go to the snow…but I don’t actually have to live in the snow. I spent some time living in Germany and it snows there. And I had to drive in it. It was not something that I relished.

3. I like the heat. As a person, I’m cold almost all the time. I spent almost five years wintering in Germany, and I don’t do well in cold climates. Sure…120 degree days during the summer might be “extreme” heat, but at least I’m not cold!

4. Big town amenities, small town atmosphere. People complain about how Fresno doesn’t have much, and you need to go to LA or San Fran to do any decent shopping. Really? As far as I’m concerned, the only thing Fresno is missing is an Ikea. And I’m not too heartbroken over that because Hubby and I really don’t need any new furniture. We’ve got plenty of great shops and restaurants here. These people just don’t appreciate them!

5. Low traffic. Anyone that has ever driven in LA log jams knows what I’m talking about. I work across town and I’m out my front door and to work in half-an-hour or less. Can many people in the “bigger and better” cities say that? Traffic jams on the freeways are few and far between (that mess at 41/180/168 notwithstanding…who the hell thought that was a good idea?? They should be shot!!) In fact, one of the first things Hubby and I noticed about Fresno when we came out here to hunt for a house was how quickly we could get around town. I’ll take that over sitting still in traffic any day. You hear me, LA??

6. Gateway to the Sierras. We’re so lucky to have the mountains nearby! It’s a crying shame that we can’t see them more often. They really are pretty spectacular, and in the winter, when it rains and the air clears, their snow-capped peaks glisten in the distance and invite you to go exploring. I like living near the mountains…I find myself taken aback when I unexpectedly catch a glimpse of them.

7. Affordable to live here…relatively speaking. The San Joaquin Valley is the most affordable place in California to live. Sadly, we’re also the most depressed during this economic downturn. But the fact remains that we have lower housing prices than anywhere else in the state, so this is a great area for people to live if they want “affordable California.” Just don’t expect the beach.

8. Low humidity. Anyone that has lived in a tropical climate can relate to me on this one. Great skin, and great hair days. Even my sister and my niece noticed the lack of humidity when they came out to visit during the summer of ’08. Although my skin cries out for the moisture, for the frizz-prone mop on top of my head, this is great!

9. We’re mere hours from the “real” big cities…LA and San Fran. So when I feel like sitting in traffic, I don’t have to drive far to do it! At only three hours or so away, both LA and San Fran offer great cultural opportunities. I’ve been to both and done the “touristy” thing, and I’m glad that I don’t have to live there. I’ve got plenty of big city amenities right here in Fresno, and I don’t have to deal with the “big city” hassles to enjoy them. But should I feel the need, I’m only a few hours away.

10. It’s not Huntsville. I spent nine months living on a military base in Huntsville, AL. I didn’t enjoy it all that much. In all honesty…I probably would feel differently if we were to live in Huntsville today. But back in 2000, I was dealing with all of the life-altering adjustments that I was going through at the time, and adding having to learn to live with the military into the mix…well, it was not the best time for me. Fresno has been waaaay better to me.

11. Earthquake-free. When we moved to California, we worried a bit about earthquakes. We’re seasoned hurricane veterans…but you can plan for hurricanes. You know days in advance that one is headed your way! Earthquakes just kinda happen as they will. Well, it turns out that the worst we can expect to experience is maybe a little vibration. Not too bad. Especially since one day California is going to split itself along the San Andreas Fault and Fresno will suddenly find itself much closer to the ocean. ;p

12. National Parks. Give me Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon! All an hour or so away. We’ve got some spectacular sights right in our back yard, and Hubby and I love getting out and seeing them as often as we can. We’ve got our annual National Parks pass and we love hiking in the parks. And we‘re so fortunate that they’re right here!!

13. We actually have a “rainy season.” Where I come from, you can count on rain almost every day, pretty much at the same time. You wouldn’t really know it by the drought that Fresno has been experiencing the past couple of years, but when we moved here in December 2005, I wondered if the rain would stop and if the sun would ever come out? This winter seems to be fairly wet, as well. I hope that it continues. I love that during the summer, spring and fall, no matter what you want to do, you know that the weather will be dry and cooperative…except for maybe the heat. It has a mind of its own, that one.

14. Culture. Yes, really...we have “culture” here. There is the cultural heritage of so many immigrant populations (I was exposed to the best Mexican food here for the first time in my life, and I had never heard of “Hmong” before moving here), and the cultural events are pretty amazing. Wine festivals, beer festivals, art festivals, music festivals, ethnic festivals…Fresno has a little bit of everything. I’m vowing to get out and see more of these great events.

15. Small-town feel. For the size of this city (California’s sixth-largest!), it is amazing how people know each other. For instance, I just recently discovered that a guy I work with is married to a girl that was on the Fresno State equestrian team with a girl that I used to work with at The City. And the guy I work with has a brother that is great friends with a guy that another girl I used to work with at The City married. What do you suppose the chances are of finding such an inter-woven connection in those “big cities?”

16. Agricultural heritage. If you eat raisins or almonds, they probably come from the Fresno area. For having such a “near-desert” climate, we’ve got some pretty darned fertile soil around these parts. The San Joaquin Valley is often called “America’s Bread Basket” because of the amount of fruits and veggies grown here. Even with all of the problems getting water to our farmers, we still manage to grow some pretty spectacular stuff.

17. Great Sports. And anyone that knows me, knows that it is *huge* that I’m saying that. Hubby and I enjoy going to the Grizzlies games (AAA!) and I’ve even found myself attending hockey and college football games. I seriously believe that my fellow Fresnans need to learn to appreciate these great opportunities…not every town has such a selection, and we’ve already lost the Falcons.

18. We’re “green.” Or as green as we can get, air quality notwithstanding. Fresno recycles…we’re one of the biggest recyclers ever! And it’s so easy to do in this city, too! Just look at how big those blue recycling bins are…just put your recyclables in there and roll it out to the curb once a week. The truck comes by and empties it out. Repeat. Admittedly, I’m not as “green” as I could be. Not absolutely everything that can go into the blue bin makes it in there. And I don’t always remember to take my reusable tote bags into the store with me. But I do try, and that has to count for something.

19. The Blossom Trail. In March and April, when all of the fruit and nut producing trees around us come into bloom, you can smell the sweet nectar of the blossoms and it is intoxicating! And to drive through the orchards and seethe vibrant blossoms hanging on the trees…mesmerizing.

20. Car Culture. Another “culture” with a different twist. We had only been out here for a few months when Hubby found local car clubs online for our Nissan & Datsun Zs. Granted, the Fresno group has not been very active (we consider ourselves the “ambassadors of Fresno” to the other Z Clubs) but every now and then people pop out of the woodwork. Sadly, with the changing of hands of Nissan of Clovis, I doubt that we’ll have our annual “Z Fest” again…sad, really…that event was a lot of fun. But Hubby has found a niche in this area, and I’ve grown to appreciate cars in a different light since my exposure to the Fresno corner of the California Car Culture. I don’t even mind going to the car shows when they roll through town.

21. We get some pretty great shows. Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen the Trans Siberian Orchestra, Rascal Flatts, Van Halen, Dave Matthews Band, Darius Rucker, Peter Frampton, the Bob and Tom Comedy Tour and the Barenaked Ladies. Hubby has been to see Tool and Metallica. They come here…we don’t have to drive hours to see them . If we were really all that po-dunk, we wouldn’t even be on their radars!

22. Christmas Tree Lane. Now granted, there are a lot of towns around that have streets that get together and decorate elaborately for the holidays, but Christmas Tree Lane is one of the finest examples I have seen. Blocks and blocks of holiday lights and displays…some outlandishly done. To see a community come together like that, to put together an annual show that is so well known that it is a tradition for so many…well, I’m hooked. We’ve driven the lane twice. This past year, we got together with friends and walked the lane. In our opinion it was a much better way to enjoy the spectacle and will be our way of celebrating the season in the future.

23. This place has forced me to get back in touch with my Southern roots. It might be the abundance of cowboy boots and big hats. Maybe it’s the fact that they consider rodeos a big thing around here. Or it could be the fact that I can drive down the freeway and admire a giant tumbleweed on the side of the road. But there is something distinctly “Western” about this place. Sure, I’ve been out of the Deep South for 10 years now, but until moving to Fresno, the places that we’ve lived with the military have been such a mix of people from so many regions, that I never really thought about “being Southern.” But the regional culture is so concentrated here, among the locals, that since moving here four years ago I’ve started to really consider what it is that makes me Southern. My cravings for BBQ, sweet tea and the way I say things like “bewh-ts” come to mind.

24. Architecture. Fresno is a town of the Old West, but it has modern twists. There are old Victorian homes, cute bungalows, and farm houses. Areas retain their old-time charm…Huntington Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue. Downtown, there is a delightful mix of old and new…restorations are in the works to preserve the buildings from an era when going downtown meant something and new buildings go in to complement the styles of existing ones.

25. We get actual seasons. Autumn, spring, summer and winter all make an appearance here. While winter is fairly cold and wet, with few freezes, spring and autumn are marked with a crispness and colorful backdrop that can’t be beat. I tend to think of spring and autumn as those brief periods when we can live with the windows open. Summer is the longest season – the show-stealer, if you will. Sometimes it feels like it is the “only” season that Fresno has.

26. Mountain sunrises, smog sunsets. As spring rolls around, Hubby and I will again be able to enjoy the sunrise over the Sierras as we leave the gym at 5:30 am. Seeing the sun peek over the mountains, capped with snow, is really a beautiful sight. And in the evenings, looking to the west, where there are more mountains that we just can’t see…the trapped smog causes the diminishing rays of the sun to light the sky with beautiful rose, orange, red and blues that create such a breathtaking sunset! Finally…something about the smog that isn’t ugly!!

27. If we want to gamble, we can. We’ve got casinos around us…so if we have the sudden desire to go blow a few dollars, or eat at a giant buffet, the opportunity is there. Granted, I’m not a big gambler. If I’m going to blow my money, I want to have something to show for it…like shoes. But if I’m in a casino, I have no problem dropping a few dollars into the penny slots. It paid big in Vegas, after all. (Ten whole dollars! That’s three trips to Starbucks!!) And Vegas is six hours away…Table Mountain and Chuckchansi are less than an hour!

28. This is where we bought our first house. Sure – it’s not a spectacular house, and we paid way too much for it at the height of the real estate boom…and we’re so far underwater on this house now that we don’t have any hope of leaving it anytime in the near future…but it is our *first* house. It is modest, and a diamond-in-the-rough, but it is *ours.* Fresno will always be the first town we started to put down roots together as a married couple, and that’s pretty darned special.

29. I adopted my dog here. It’s a pretty big coincidence that she was born the month that we found out that we were moving out here…and then, 16 months later, when I worked for The City, I happened to walk into the animal adoption center one day and there she was…surrendered by her former family. She is now a part of my heart…and I can’t imagine our lives without her. I’ll always be grateful to Fresno for bringing us together.

30. Friendships have been made – some roots have been put down. I’ve made a few really great groups of friends…from the Cool Girls/People and the Raisinettes to the Banker Bitches…I’ve got friend that I know that I can count on and a great support group. I know that after we leave Fresno and move on to the next chapter in our gypsy lives, I’ll still be in touch with my Fresno friends and our home will always be open for visits. Yes…even when we live in Orlando…the House of the Mouse.

31. The Spirit of Fresno. There are people out there in the metro of Fresno that know that Fresno has so much to offer…that Fresno can be so much more than it is…they see the potential that others don’t see. They look past the negativity and the people that say that Fresno is a joke. It is people that have this kind of vision that will make this a better place to be. And eventually, others will see Fresno as a destination in its own right. I hope that Fresno can pull it off, because there is just too much potential to let the city perish.

So there it is...31 days and 31 reasons. Amazingly, there are a few other reasons that didn't make the list. Like Tri-tip and the Doghouse Grill. Roeding park and the Chaffee Zoo. Not to mention a pretty cool dog park out there. Woodward Park and the Shin-Zen Gardens. I just don't know how those didn't make the list. There are other things ... See Morethat didn't make the list, even though I know that they are great, but only because I haven't experienced them. Like Storyland, Forestier Underground Gardens, the University. My point is that Fresno has sooo much to offer...you just need to be willing to go out and find it!

Working On Me

I’ve been slacking all year. I stopped blogging and sharing photos, and I’m not happy about that.

I guess that I have had some issues to work out.

The last half of 2008 was not so kind to me. It started with my unexpected…well…firing from my job at The City. I can see now that that was a big blow to me. Kinda funny, though, because now I can look back and see how absolutely awful that job was. I think that deep down I may have known how bad that place was for me; however, at the time I was determined to stick with it and see my job through. Foolish of me, really.

The worst thing to have come from that, though, was the blow to my self-confidence. I had failed at something, and failed in such a way that it could have had a serious impact on both myself and my husband. What if we couldn’t pay the bills? What then?

Fortunately, I spent less than a month unemployed. I was picked up by Willy Wonka’s Raisin Factory in a nearby town and temped for them for almost four months before they hired me. I was so grateful for a job that I didn’t mind working 50 hour work weeks. I must have been doing something right, because they gave me a raise before they hired me. Finally, a boost to my bruised self esteem!

2009 started out in an unassuming manner – I had been hired on full-time at Willy Wonka’s and was content. The benefits weren’t what I had become accustomed to, but then again not every job could be as good as a federal or municipal position, right? And then out-of-the-blue I received a phone call from The Bank, where I had worked before leaving to go work for The City. My old position was coming open and my old manager was interested in talking to me about coming back.

There was suddenly a light shining down upon me. Another big boost to my self esteem! It was a heart-wrenching decision to leave Willy Wonka’s and the family I had gained there, but it was a decision to be made.

I’ve spent the past year back with my old co-workers at The Bank. I slipped right into the fold again and have rolled with some pretty unsettling changes…staying busier than I was promised and taking on quite a bit more responsibility than I had anticipated when I went back. It has been a challenge that I think I have risen to well. And my self esteem has recovered quite a bit.

In retrospect, while sorting out my issues and licking my wounds, I can see that I’m not so bad after all. Looking around at the economic climate of the time, to have been unemployed for less than a month was pretty amazing. To receive a substantial raise by the company that I was temping for before they even hired me was pretty outstanding. And to be hired back by The Bank, whom I left to go to work The City, where I would eventually be fired…well, I think that that alone speaks volumes. I really don’t think that the problem at The City was me.

I don’t think that I am back to where I was before. I’ve stopped cringing when the phone rings, but I still find myself facing a sense of dread that I’m not doing a good enough job. Which is really silly of me…there have been no indications at all over the course of the past year that I haven’t been doing well. But that sense is still there…it is probably something that I will carry with me for a long time…all as a result of the time I spent working under Boss Lady (who has since been renamed something really not appropriate for public forums.) So I’ve still got some issues to resolve, but I’m working on them.

So 2009 was a better year for me than 2008, and I’m looking forward to 2010. This year, I resolve to blog more and start sharing photos and accounts of our adventures and explorations together. In fact, I plan to spend this weekend getting our photo collection caught up on Shutterfly. We really did go places in 2009, and I’ve got the proof on my computer. And I’m already brainstorming new blog ideas for posting.

Stick with me…it’ll get better. It already has.