Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Happy Happenings

The seasons seem to be changing around here. Tarantulas are on the move and we've seen evidence of snakes changing into their fall wardrobe. We're busy on the farm with chores, homework, a new instrument and life in general. I received my first "real" paycheck in nine years today.

On our way to the 4-H meeting tonight, I stopped at the post office to get the mail. I was greeted by a man as I came out. He was wondering where our gas station was. I glanced at my watch and told him he was out of luck...it was after 5:30. His expression led me to offer to get him some gas from our key pump. Just a little FYI--if you're traveling through and think it'd be fun to say you filled up in Happy, please try to make your trip on a weekday before 5:00 or 5:30. If it's a Saturday, get here before noon. We only have the one station. Quite a few of us have pump keys...but you can't always guarantee we'll be around.

I tell you this because the other evening a lady was shocked (or possibly dismayed) that we:
1. don't have a grocery store
2. don't have a convenience store (Jackie's is convenient if you are in town during the hours I mentioned before...he has fountain drinks, some candy bars, eggs on occasion and special treats for special customers sometimes, too.)
3. We can't eat out whenever we want or "run" to Sonic just because it is happy hour.

The nearest "conveniences" are about 15 miles away. Life in our small town takes planning and forethought. And, that's just the way we like it.

The joys of small town life are abundant.

3 comments:

spicyapplepie said...

Wow, it is so hard to imagine living as you do, how wonderful! Where I live in the South of England, you can't really get away from shops or civilisation. We live on the edge of the New Forest, which is a large national park, but even there you are never far away from the odd tea shop or pub!

It sounds idyllic, I have always dreamed of living in a small community on a farm, what a wonderful place to bring up children. However, I am sure it brings up many challenges!

Jen said...

We're close to all the conveniences, but it takes us longer to get to them than it takes you. Josie thinks you guys are so lucky. She says she would love to live in Happy. We just need a golf course that would give Cody a job. :)

Laura said...

Spicyapplepie--We are only 15 minutes from the chain grocery store and WalMart, so we aren't hurting too badly. It is wonderful to live here and rear our kids here. We sort of choose to be as much of the "world" as we want.

Jen--We wish there was a golf course for Cody, too!