I genuinely like the people in Arizona- friendly bunch. But one thing that has always made me laugh is people's perceptions of "far". I've heard (from people who live in Mesa), "We're moving to Gilbert to be closer to family." Really? Wow. How close do you need to be. When my parents lived in Mesa, and Mark and I were in Tempe people would say, "Oh too bad you don't live closer." I thought it was an appropriate amount of distance. (So you should hear the sighs I get when people find out my parents are in Texas now.) Last night at Mark's work holiday party I sat across from a lady who has serious roots in Arizona. Generations of people live here. And when I asked her, "Did your kids all marry people from here as well?" She said, "No. One is from Glendale." Oh yeah, he might as well be from another country.
But one good thing about people's serious commitment to living with three square miles of their family, is that they feel bad for you when they hear you don't have a lot of extended family in the area. I get invited to multiple family celebrations each holiday, even by strangers sometimes.
8 comments:
That's funny because I live over an hour from my mom and I still think that's close. I do wish it were a little closer because I don't like driving that far, but I consider myself lucky. Awesome that you get those invites though!!
HA HA HA HA
that's funny b/c its sooo true!! Just ask Bryan.. or Diane, they've lived in AZ too long.. =D
so THAT'S why bryan was so whiny about driving half hour to down town?? everyone drives everywhere here! 1 hour is close!
that cracks me up.
There was a lady in mom's ward in Mesa who moved to Queen Creek about a year after her daughter did to be closer to her and mom had the same reaction. We just see things differently when it comes to living next door to family. EVERYONE feels super sorry for me when they hear mom and dad moved to TX, and they say, "it must be so hard because they were here and then left..." and I am like- "it's hard, but it's not the end of the world. I HAVE lived away from them before." Your post made me laugh. Oh AZ people.
I must not talk to people much or something, because I had no idea people thought that different parts of the valley were "far". Most people are suprised to know I live in Mesa and work in Central Phoenix, but everyone I work with lives outside of Phoenix. I do wish family lived closer...I am trying to convince someone to move to Snowflake, since they can still have the cooler weather and the small townish feel, and one of my brother-in-laws has a job offer in Tucson but his wife doesn't want to live in Arizona, but I would love it if the moved closer. It is really hard having a toddler, a baby on the way, and it being holiday time to know we won't see family until probably June (baby blessing/Dback-Braves games).
I agree!! I would hear people in ward say things like, I moved to mesa to be closer to my parents, and i'd be like where did you move from. They'd say, Gilbert. I would think freak, I've got grandkids in Tenn. now that's far!!
Now i'm in texas, far from you. Don't like it, but like April said that's the way it is!!
Yeah, that is funny. I would disagree about people in AZ being friendly. I think we are the most unfriendlist bunch ever. I realized that after 3 years in Minnesota. I would go back in a heartbeat!
That is really funny! I didn't know that about Arizonians. I feel excited to be "within driving distance" and to me that means under a days worth of driving. But it is nice to be invited somewhere over the holidays when you can't be with family.
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