Small town with a big Harte
Updated January 13, 2005
by: Annette M. Hall
Originally published in the Twain Harte Times, May 7, 2004.
Twain Harte in Charcoal
Photo by: Annette M. Hall
Living in these majestic mountains is a dream for many, for others it's a dream come true.
I had the pleasure of visiting this quaint little town several years ago and still remember thinking how wonderful it would be to live in such an inviting community. Nothing stands out in my memory of our visit; nothing made a huge impression on my mind. The community of Twain Harte, CA just had the feeling of home, a comfortable place where one goes to relax and unwind. Only the friendly faces, inviting little restaurants and the uniqueness of the town stand out.
After spending two years traveling around the country, meeting people from all walks of life and visiting hundreds of towns, we are finally home. The people must love it here, everywhere you turn are smiling faces. There are more smiles here for square foot than most any place else I've been.
Bay Area a Traffic Nightmare
Take the Bay area for example. It's a lovely place to visit, with spectacular views, where you can find most any item available for consumption. No one smiles there. If the housing or gas prices don't get you down, the traffic will certainly do you in. Sitting in rush hour traffic allows for plenty of time to make a new friend or two, try it and you would be just as likely to end up in a mental ward somewhere as to make a new acquaintance.
Living in Michigan
Michigan has gorgeous trees, everywhere you turn. The lakes are well used and inviting, the sunsets are memorable, the dunes are delightful but people don't smile. Inhabitants travel north in the fall for the "changing of the colors", the brilliantly colored fall leaves will take your breath away, so why all the gloomy Gusses? Michiganders all know that winter is coming. The first snowfall makes Michigan look like a winter wonderland, the kind we find in those tiny globes at Christmas time. After a month of cold winter nights, icy roads and sub-zero temperatures, no one is smiling any more. It's common for temperatures to dip down to 20 below, with a wind chill factor of -50°. Now that's cold.
Maryland Crime
Thinking of moving to Maryland? Better think again. There you will find one of the few job markets with tremendous growth, they were adding white-collar jobs at the rate of 10,000 per month, compliments of the U.S. government. Riding along the Potomac makes you think of days long past, of the great battles that took place and founding of this country. Never mind the climbing crime rate, the incessant rain and the feeling that someone is watching you at every turn. We found secret government meeting rooms (no joke) and people who were very tight lipped, who wouldn't dare crack a smile.
Chicago's Hyde Park Area
As one of the few Caucasian inhabitants of the Hyde Park area of Chicago, nobody smiled and I mean nobody. People there live behind bars; fast food restaurants are equipped with bulletproof glass and high tech monitoring devices. All conversations are held inside are taped. I mention our race, not because I'm racist but because we were targets, easy pickings if you will. It was impossible to walk into a restaurant, grocery store or other establishment without being accosted by a panhandler.
The Chicago area has an estimated 200,000 homeless people. They are literally everywhere. We had a friend held up at gunpoint for a mere $18. If that weren't enough, the following day he was held up again at knifepoint. Affordable housing is a tremendous problem in the area. Many charities exist to lend a hand but it's never enough.
They celebrate St. Patrick's Day in a big way though by turning Lake Michigan green. You may think that would bring a few smiles but you would be wrong.
While we may have increasing traffic, progressively higher costs for gasoline, groceries and housing, we haven't forgotten why we came. High enough to escape much of the valley's sweltering heat, low enough to miss an avalanche of snow, nestled in the mountain, Twain Harte offers shelter from not only the elements but from life's trials and cares.
Just this morning on my way to work, mind you it was 6 a.m., I had to smile as I passed a lone man in an orange vest walking along business 108 picking up the trash.
The many volunteers found in this tight knit community are delightfully gracious and ready to lend a helping hand on projects big and small. It's refreshing to find so many involved senior citizens who take pride in their community and work to make it a better place to live. We have plenty to smile about.
