happy to be out of Salt Lake (how much, home)

[lemon&lime]

I left Salt Lake Friday night and am relieved to be out of there. I know a lot of people on this board think I post here just to put Salt Lake down but I don't. The area has a lot of charm and potential and I think with the addition of City Creek, the development in Sugarhouse and the extension of Trax will become an even better place to live. It wasn't the right place for me though and no matter how much effort I put in to my situation there I was never entirely happy. The weather, strange culture, "us versus" them attitudes, pollution, congestion and over development in the suburbs were more than I could deal with.

I am back in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a town that is also growing and has a lot of "problems" that people complain about. The area does not yet have a lightrail and is the third most dangerous state in the country. People here are nicer though. Yesterday at least three people greeted me; ie, either waved or said "hi". In Salt Lake it would be really unusual for anyone on a daily basis to even acknowledge me. My friend Dan came up to help with the move and he said he noticed this also; ie, the stiff attitudes and unfriendliness from customer service workers, etc. I can't live in an area where people refuse to make eye contact or say hi. That is not normal. I am happy to be back in a sunny, cheerful place.

Leaving Salt Lake was an almost spiritual experience; exhilarating and even profound.

[kaytidid]

Sorry your experience was so bad here. I have found it to be quite the contrary. However, as long as you are happy now...

[Lmejh]

Good for you. Everyone has different experiences with Salt Lake and personally I can't imagine ever leaving but if you don't like it here, great that you moved somewhere you like; hope the move went well!

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Glad you're happy there. I found just the opposite here, that many more people make eye contact, etc. but maybe that's b/c of who I met. SLC isn't for everyone and you made the right decision for you!

[lolagranola]

I really love it here...but I did live in another state which "everybody" loved and claimed was friendly and hospitable, where I was treated miserably and excluded...so I can relate to where you were coming from.

I know you've been wanting to get back to Albuquerque, hope it is all you are expecting. Good for you though, for tasting something else.

[VC dreamer]

Awesome! Good for you! I am so happy that you're where you want to be, and can be content. I wish you much happiness and sucess.
It is a different feeling when you leave SLC, or even just Utah in general. That's why DH and I go on so many week-end trips out of here. We're still hanging in here, trying to adapt, but our hearts aren't in it, and we'll be moving in about a year. Life here is too frustrating to ever really be happy.
Each person needs to find their real "home", and I'm so happy that you have found yours.

[kaytidid]

Originally Posted by VC dreamer

We're still hanging in here, trying to adapt, but our hearts aren't in it...
Each person needs to find their real "home", and I'm so happy that you have found yours.

YES! Home is truly where the heart is!

[lemon&lime]

was really the biggest reason for the move. I was there four years and had more or less adjusted to the different, more inward and guarded temperment of the people. I am a native Texan and don't have the skills to deal with driving in snow conditions. In the winter my life would slow down to a snails pace and I would either stay home a lot or go to work and brave the cold each day, which was hard on me. I have clinical depression and could not take the inversions and lack of sunlight. Albuquerque is a challenging town in its own way; the whole time I was in Salt Lake I never felt unsafe or had to watch my back, even living downtown. Here I will have to be careful about where I live and will probably not be able to walk places at night like I did in Salt Lake. The safe culture is one of the best things about Utah.

I look forward to visiting once City Creek is built.

[kaytidid]

It sounds like Salt Lake is great for you a visit at a time. I have family members that suffer from depression and Utah was/is hard on them in the winter. Hell, I don't and I don't care for the winters here either.

Really, Catrinac, it is good where you are someplace that you want to be and makes you happy! Life is too short to be miserable.

[stycotl]

Godspeed and good luck, cathy. have fun soaking up some sun for me while i get pastier and pastier in the utah winter (course, i'll be having fun playing in the snow, meanwhile...).

aaron out.