A Good Place to Live!
Silver World Newspaper column - Life From My View - September 2020
The best feeling in the world, a
celebration of being alive, that’s today! As I write there’s an
autumn nip in the air and despite the crazy weather that delayed the
aspen trees changing colors, there’s overwhelming evidence that
Mother Nature is giving us glorious color. This is my favorite
season!
Postcard mountain views, with an
endearing historic downtown area, Lake City, Colorado is a shining
star to all initially. Out of a diverse assortment of people
who try to make this mountain village their home, only a fraction
happily stay. For some boredom sets in, for others it’s the
realization of needing to make a living somewhere else.
By a certain age, we are all expected to
take care of ourselves. However, perhaps uniquely, there is
short-term help available in our mountain village when something out
of the ordinary occurs for locals. Contacting any of our pastors to
talk about the need can lead to help.
Nothing worthwhile is easy. It is
not convenient or inexpensive or easy to live here and yet even my
hardest days are better for living right here and I am grateful.
I walk a lot. I live inside of nature.
Repeatedly we are told that walking is the best exercise. Walking
can help us maintain a healthy weight, a healthy heart, healthy
bones, balance and coordination and much more. Just as important a
role in our health, is nature. Nothing about nature is lazy; it’s
inspiring! Time in the mountains helps provide a significant
connection to our lives that others reach out for by vacationing
here. Being in nature can reduce stress and not only make you feel
better emotionally, but can contribute to reducing blood pressure,
heart rate, muscle tension, and much more. Living in the mountains
provides instant healthy access to walking in nature.
Both after our surprising mid June snow
and our very early September snow I thought I must have magic or
grace in the garden because while the plants looked frozen, after
the sun warmed us, they were all fine! I love when we have these
little uplifting mountain miracles in nature!
Studies conclude that after meeting our
basic needs and some nonessential desires; making more money does
not make people happier. There are reasons to work other than money.
Since cheaper, easier, more convenient places to live and work
abound, those of us who live and work here know that feeling more
than most; especially the many of us who also volunteer for
committees and boards. I don’t believe it’s possible to call Lake
City home and stay disconnected from the community. Our village and
mountains intertwine in creating Lake City, Colorado.
One of the countless groups of people,
who care deeply for our community, is the search committee for our
new doctor. This exceptionally hard-working team of very busy people
met repeatedly, working diligently, to make the wisest choice
possible. Lake City attracts some of the best and the brightest, and
this search committee was fortunate to have the struggle to choose
between two outstanding candidates.
While Dr. Bill Gattis lives in Gunnison,
he is familiar with our community. Years ago he worked with our
clinic so our medical center could stay open during the transition
through Dr. Carr. Our senior PA has worked with Dr. Gattis, being
his supervising / collaborating physician. Our former nurse
practitioner, Sherry Huisman,
also lived in Gunnison
and I have been told that the drive from Gunnison to Lake City was
not an issue.
Contented people are flexible. Folks who
happily make Lake City their home are adaptable. It is easy to find
those much needed quiet, alone spots yet walking through town,
running errands, saying hello – it’s like the movie; It’s a
Wonderful Life—because it is!
I had a micro mini vacation with a
girlfriend the other afternoon. We had a picnic up in the mountains
enjoying the colorful aspen, a doe with her fawn and a large herd of
sheep. It was so much fun to get away for a bit. Living here can
allow for easy access to an afternoon escape in deeper nature.
I disappoint our border collie by telling
her there can’t be a walk this evening because the bear could very
well be making his rounds. Living here has its frustrations, to put
it mildly. Wherever we live, whatever time of life, there are
pleasures and problems.
In some ways of course this town is like
any other place with people who think the rules don’t apply to them
and they make life unnecessarily more difficult for everyone.
However, in other ways Lake City, Colorado is a most uniquely
beautiful place, filled with some of the most kind and caring folks.
It’s a good place to live. Healthy living and simple pleasures
abound.
There’s grace in the garden.