I guess it's time to tell y'all a little about how life is out here in the CA desert. Yes, I did just use y'all - I may not be the most su'th'n girl here on post, but I do firmly believe that y'all has a valid grammatical use, and I intend to keep using it :)
Anyway...
Post is tiny. And isolated. And brown. And dry. That's pretty much how to sum it up. It's definitely in the middle of nowhere. It's odd though - there's so much to do in this area of the country - national parks, LA, Vegas - just none of it HERE. It's all here, if you're willing to drive a bit. Lots of things in day-trip, or weekend-trip, or long-weekend-trip radius. Just nothing here on post. As for "in town," it's about 30-40 minutes into Barstow, the nearest town (which isn't much of a town - I might have mentioned that). It's about an hour, give or take, into Victorville, which is the closest real town (i.e. bookstore, mall, Target, ethnic restaurants... the good stuff). We're getting used to having 2 shopping lists going, one for 'in-town' and one for 'on-post.' (And yes, everytime I think of going 'in town,' all I hear in my head is "Don't go into town, Tonto! Don't go into town!")
Post itself is about a mile radius. Well, at least the inhabited part of post is. The rest of post is very big and very empty. Useful for training purposes, but not so much for the people who live here. See?
This picture was taken on one of my runs, through my neighborhood and the one next to ours. It's a view of post from a hill, looking out across post. And yes, that is the end of the inhabited part of post you see in the distance there. I do rather like this picture, though, as it IS a pretty view from that hill, and all pretty and hazy at sunset. Still, it is rather unusual to see the complete other side of town from where you're standing...
One of the oddest things I'm having to get used to is the brown-ness of everything. Our houses are tan with brown roofs, and all the office buildings and such are either brown or tan, and yards are just plain brown. Even the fire hydrants are brown here! Supposedly this is actually the green season, and one of the greener ones at that, but I'm having a hard time believing that. I'm sure I'll realize how green it was come July, when everything is BROWN. :) Some trees are kinda green - but check out the daggers on this one! Not an inviting plant! From one of Zach's co-workers, those thorns can punch right through the soles of your shoes!!
But, at the same time, post does have some pretty moments. :) I just have to make sure to look for them! I think that's the only way I'll not go crazy-homesick for water and green and people - look for something nice each day about where I am, something to appreciate, something I wouldn't find anywhere else. Sounds like a simple strategy, right? I just have to remind myself about it sometimes though :)
Well, I think that's all for tonight. Thoughts on the new job will wait 'til next week, and thoughts on desert landscaping are going to be a whole 'nother post unto themselves!
Anyway...
Post is tiny. And isolated. And brown. And dry. That's pretty much how to sum it up. It's definitely in the middle of nowhere. It's odd though - there's so much to do in this area of the country - national parks, LA, Vegas - just none of it HERE. It's all here, if you're willing to drive a bit. Lots of things in day-trip, or weekend-trip, or long-weekend-trip radius. Just nothing here on post. As for "in town," it's about 30-40 minutes into Barstow, the nearest town (which isn't much of a town - I might have mentioned that). It's about an hour, give or take, into Victorville, which is the closest real town (i.e. bookstore, mall, Target, ethnic restaurants... the good stuff). We're getting used to having 2 shopping lists going, one for 'in-town' and one for 'on-post.' (And yes, everytime I think of going 'in town,' all I hear in my head is "Don't go into town, Tonto! Don't go into town!")
Post itself is about a mile radius. Well, at least the inhabited part of post is. The rest of post is very big and very empty. Useful for training purposes, but not so much for the people who live here. See?
This picture was taken on one of my runs, through my neighborhood and the one next to ours. It's a view of post from a hill, looking out across post. And yes, that is the end of the inhabited part of post you see in the distance there. I do rather like this picture, though, as it IS a pretty view from that hill, and all pretty and hazy at sunset. Still, it is rather unusual to see the complete other side of town from where you're standing...
One of the oddest things I'm having to get used to is the brown-ness of everything. Our houses are tan with brown roofs, and all the office buildings and such are either brown or tan, and yards are just plain brown. Even the fire hydrants are brown here! Supposedly this is actually the green season, and one of the greener ones at that, but I'm having a hard time believing that. I'm sure I'll realize how green it was come July, when everything is BROWN. :) Some trees are kinda green - but check out the daggers on this one! Not an inviting plant! From one of Zach's co-workers, those thorns can punch right through the soles of your shoes!!
But, at the same time, post does have some pretty moments. :) I just have to make sure to look for them! I think that's the only way I'll not go crazy-homesick for water and green and people - look for something nice each day about where I am, something to appreciate, something I wouldn't find anywhere else. Sounds like a simple strategy, right? I just have to remind myself about it sometimes though :)
Well, I think that's all for tonight. Thoughts on the new job will wait 'til next week, and thoughts on desert landscaping are going to be a whole 'nother post unto themselves!
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