I was born and raised in Seattle, and then moved to Portland OR to pursue my career. I loved the water and the trees and the lush greenery. I loved the fresh air, the cultural diversity, and the liberal political environment. There were good movies, good beer, good bookstores and good restaurants to enjoy. I even met the love of my life in the Great Northwest!
Turns out she was from Utah. A few years into our relationship, she told me she suffered from Seasonal Affect Disorder, that she missed her family, and that she wanted to move back. I protested, saying that the state is controlled by the LDS, that it's too dry and hot for me, that it's too conservative, too car-centered, and lacking in any real cultural diversity.
She was stubborn, and I agreed to move. Turns out I was right on all accounts. This is the weirdest, most boring place I have ever lived. Almost everyone is both white and Mormon. The majority of the restaurants are chains like Red Robin, Olive Garden or Applebees. Although there is a scared, huddled little mass of liberals (they all go to the Unitarian Church near the UofU), and one little funky district in the whole state of Utah (Sugar House), the city and state is almost universally conservative and Republican. There is no life here. People drive everywhere. The streets (even downtown) are as wide as freeways. The public transit sucks. The only cool independent businesses in the city (Sam Weller's Bookstore, the Dancing Crane, Blue Boutique) have all been forced out of their original locations by developers who knock the buildings down and then fail to build new ones.
Did I mention everyone is Mormon?
I'm trying really hard to adjust, to see the bright side of things, but I'm failing miserably. Why can't I get used to Utah... to the dry air, the complete lack of vegetation, the heavy snowfall, and the LDS controlled government? Where can I get whatever pills they take here to become wide-eyed "happy" Stepford Wives?|||Yeah, and what's wrong with being Mormon? LOL!
I'm one myself, I just moved here from the South and I can't stand it, either. . .except for the excellent hiking trails. It's a big change, I know. Takes getting used to. You are probably just used to being in Seattle and have good memories of it--I don't doubt it, I loved it there myself. I was stationed at Ft Lewis while I was in the army and out of all the places I have ever lived, I enjoyed it the most.
Scared huddled masses of liberals?????? I take the SLC Tribune and from the immense voice these scared huddled masses have, you would think that they were the majority. All the columnists brazenly mock the LDS church right there all over the newpaper, everyday, you know? Why can't we all be friends??!! It takes a lot of tolerance and understanding on the part of both--an no stereotyping!!
You're wrong about the transit authority--it's a very good one, it's just expensive now (I lived in SLC 20 years ago when I was just a young college kid, it was cheap and I went everywhere on it--I never even owned a car until I went into the army and moved a Monterey--now, there's the kind of town you are looking for!)
As for all the old businesses closing--honey, that's everywhere!!! It sucks, and it's so sad! Corporate America owns us. I watched my hometown get raped over a few short years, starting when walmart moved in, and the old farmers started dying off and developers scrambled over themselves buying up their lands to build malls. . .and Applebees, and Olive Gardens. . .and Target, Ross, Pet Smart, Best Buy, blah blah blah blah blah blah. Our town's historical societies and small business owners tried so hard to stand their ground, but it did not work because, sad to say, folks are just gonna patronize walmart. I saw businesses that had been thriving for 100+ years have to go under, all the neat little shops where I went had to file bankruptcy and close. It's where ever the people go, and the dollar goes, you know? All I can say, do you what can to resist and fight against that. It takes numbers to do so.
As for SLC itself, I always thought it was a pretty liberal town, myself, LOL!! In fact, when I lived there 20 years ago (I went to UofU) it pretty much freaked me out at first.I ended up sharing an apartment with a male gay couple and the three of us went everywhere together downtown--and there were some good places to go then. I don't know what it's like now, though--maybe you're right, maybe it has changed.
Like I mentioned before, I was in the military and I have traveled all over the world and had to live in some places that I didn't like. I learned over time that you just have to happy where ever you are or you are going to dissolve in misery--who wants to do that? Just bloom where you are planted. It's the friends that you make in the places that you are that bring you happiness. You need friends, a support network, that's all. It doesn't matter where. And when you have the means, you can move on.
But at any rate, please don't become a stepford wife!! I am a Latter Day Saint I dearly love my church with all my heart, I follow all of it's precepts and understand all the doctrines, but I sure don't fit in with the culture! I am not going to say anything mean now. . .it's just that I don't clique with my peeps and I had to adjust to that after moving here. I am not a size-2 blondie pushing that shopping card followed by at least 5 kids while hubby it at the office wearing a tie. . .I'm a vegetarian and I own a pack of dogs, lol! You don't have to be a stepford wife while living in Utah--just be YOU! We need diversity here!|||Enjoy the clean cold mountain water. I've never lived in a place that had better tasting water. Also, spend $25 and get a pass for the National Park System. Utah almost has a monopoly on them. I live in Texas where the water is awful and there is only one or two national parks. Check out Bryce Canyon, Zion's National Park, Cedar Breaks, the Uintah National Forrest, and any of a dozen other parks. You will see eye-candy that compares to Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and the Grand Canyon. If you learn to ski, fish, or boat you will find an abundance of recreational activities. There are also an abudance of wholesome clubs that you could join, like knitting, quilting, carving, or rock hounding.
While you are in Utah, don't forget to enjoy the ultra low crime rate of this staunch conservative state. The next time you get a ticket for looking sideways at a policeman, remember that they have little else to do.
One more suggestion: lose the lip/nose ring and dye your hair back to its original color. People will stop staring at you like you're from the moon.|||lol. You sure got a ton to complain about.
Either become city mayor and change things... or go back to Seattle. I have more NON LDS friends than LDS friends... but i have never met somebody that complains as much as you just did...
Yes people drive, thats how people get from point a to b...
To dry to hot, to cold, to mormon... how about you just leave? mmk?|||I don't know if this will help but I'll try - I'll look at the flip side:
LOL - I live in portland oregon and converted to the LDS church and everyone warned me about "those mormons!" - it's one of the most liberal cities in America - controlled by liberals - despite the state's huge number of conservatives.
I like it and the people are kind, but I grow tired of the politically correct mentality - yet if you disagree with their political views (Did I mention everyone nearly everyone is liberal? And portland, Statistically, made the news recently because it is less diverse in terms of color than Salt Lake) people really can't deal with the fact that you don't like obama or something. They will get in a KNOT over it.
I've had my grade docked when I was in college because the professor didn't like military veterans and I even got 1/3 of the class to testify before the school board that this was the case and they saw it too.
I've taken my family for a walk through the pearl district and we are a traditional family - people were stopping and staring at us like we were freaks of nature - like we didn't belong there.
Women look like they are grafiti projects for kids with crayons with all their tatoos and massive piercings.
Let me tell you the upside of being Mormon in Portland: the people are nice. I've adjusted quite well to being LDS and living in a liberal-controlled government. I've learned to get along with other people who have different values than I do. The drivers are the kindest in the US (Portland is the most polite city in America) and the rain is beautiful.
I might say: forget about yourself and learn to love others for who they are where they are. Get to know them. Try to see the good things about the LDS culture. Don't stereotype an entire religion - we're not all that way. I'm LDS and I don't think I could live in Salt Lake because I enjoy the diversity of portland, but I enjoy the family environment of Utah (when I've been there).
You seem to be stereotyping and that's not going to help you through this.
I|||I grew up in Salt Lake and moved to Seattle. I feel your pain. At least I felt it when I lived back there!
Have you read Terry Tempest Williams? I was shocked by "Refuge". There is a wealth of beauty and wildlife that I had never seen in the SL Valley. In my trips back there I've been able to see the place with new eyes.
As for the rest, what can I say? Park City.
It's hard to know if downtown SLC will ever return. You know the multi block development that killed it is funded by the LDS church? It's up to 3 billion dollars and estimates go to 8 billion. These are such tough times for commercial real estate that they may never see the money back.
I understand seasonal affective disorder all too well, but there must be a better compromise than yours.
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