Repost from 2010. Seemed appropriate due to recent SacMag article.
I am a Sacramento transplant and yet I often feel I love Sacramento more than some Sacramento natives.
I have a multi-cultural background and have lived in many places. Right before Sac I had been in college in Portland. There were plenty of Californians there and many of the Southern Californians would say that Sacramento/Stockton and the central valley were 'the armpit of California'. So I didn't have big expectations when I arrived. The reason I came was because I had a free place to live care-taking a condo for close family friends. Then I got married and ended up staying.
Growing up the longest I stayed anywhere was 16 years in Saudi Arabia. So if you asked me, I would have called Saudi 'home'. Now, since Sac is the longest I've lived anywhere, I am proud to call Sacramento my home.
In the 23 years I've been here I've seen the area grow considerably. What I love the most is that I have all the trappings of a major city and yet at the same time the intimacy of a small town. Sacramento is one of those places were you are probably only three degrees of separation from someone else. I'm always amazed at the people I meet, who they know, who I know, and how we all relate.
I am now the go-to person in my office when it comes to knowing what there is to do around town or where to eat. Isn't it great that we have so many things to offer? Often I have trouble choosing because there are too many cool events scheduled for the same weekend.
Anyway, here is the list of how I love thee, Sacramento:
- LOVE the weather. I like hot, but no humidity, and long, sunny summers!
- We are close to so much! mountains, ocean, rivers, lakes, SF, Napa, Reno, Tahoe, Yosemite, Monterey, Santa Cruz, etc.
- There are all kinds of outdoor activities: biking, hiking, camping, rafting, boating, fishing, skiing, etc.
- There is every type of ethnicity here and they all have restaurants.
- The fine dining here rivals any big city.
- The traffic isn't that bad (compared to SF and LA).
- So much history here! Gold rush, railroads, agriculture, Indians, Crocker, ...
- Cool events like Second Saturdays, Grubcrawls, Jazz Jubilee...
- Fresh produce and farmers markets!
- I feel pretty comfortable about walking around downtown, even at night.
I'll probably add more to the list as I think of them.
I am a Sacramento transplant and yet I often feel I love Sacramento more than some Sacramento natives.
I have a multi-cultural background and have lived in many places. Right before Sac I had been in college in Portland. There were plenty of Californians there and many of the Southern Californians would say that Sacramento/Stockton and the central valley were 'the armpit of California'. So I didn't have big expectations when I arrived. The reason I came was because I had a free place to live care-taking a condo for close family friends. Then I got married and ended up staying.
Growing up the longest I stayed anywhere was 16 years in Saudi Arabia. So if you asked me, I would have called Saudi 'home'. Now, since Sac is the longest I've lived anywhere, I am proud to call Sacramento my home.
In the 23 years I've been here I've seen the area grow considerably. What I love the most is that I have all the trappings of a major city and yet at the same time the intimacy of a small town. Sacramento is one of those places were you are probably only three degrees of separation from someone else. I'm always amazed at the people I meet, who they know, who I know, and how we all relate.
I am now the go-to person in my office when it comes to knowing what there is to do around town or where to eat. Isn't it great that we have so many things to offer? Often I have trouble choosing because there are too many cool events scheduled for the same weekend.
Anyway, here is the list of how I love thee, Sacramento:
- LOVE the weather. I like hot, but no humidity, and long, sunny summers!
- We are close to so much! mountains, ocean, rivers, lakes, SF, Napa, Reno, Tahoe, Yosemite, Monterey, Santa Cruz, etc.
- There are all kinds of outdoor activities: biking, hiking, camping, rafting, boating, fishing, skiing, etc.
- There is every type of ethnicity here and they all have restaurants.
- The fine dining here rivals any big city.
- The traffic isn't that bad (compared to SF and LA).
- So much history here! Gold rush, railroads, agriculture, Indians, Crocker, ...
- Cool events like Second Saturdays, Grubcrawls, Jazz Jubilee...
- Fresh produce and farmers markets!
- I feel pretty comfortable about walking around downtown, even at night.
I'll probably add more to the list as I think of them.