Now I've lived in some small towns in my life but nothing like small town, Alaska. And so in this post I would like to take the time to compare my small town in Vermont (aka Belmont... I challenge anyone who doesn't live near me to find it on a map without using the internet, it's almost as fun as where's waldo)
Belmont, Vermont is a sleepy little town filled with quirky, but lovable residents. There are really only two paved roads which go back to ether one or two routes. They meet in the middle where there is a 4-way stop sign. At the four corners there is a church (baptist), library, town green and a general store. The general store has a deli, sells pizza and burgers, a few tourist sweatshirts, and a limited variety of food. It also sells lots of beer. There is a the Odd Fellows Hall which is up the hill a little ways and lives on Star Lake, which is basically a pond. Belmont is the town that tourists hope to find on their scenic driving tour of Vermont. There are about 1,500 residents year round but in summer, fall and winter on weekends the town gets up to about 4,000 (on the high end). There is no cop, instead there is a constable who pulls people over every now and again to remind everyone that he does still exist and does still have authority. But really he's a nice guy and you have to work to get any sort of ticket. and frankly if you're in Belmont you're probably in no rush to get anywhere. There are town festivals such as Farm Days and Cider Days (my personal favorite) where people gather on the green or up at the lake for demonstrations of different things. Things locals like to do are: hunt, fish, smoke weed (after all they are from Vermont), drink beer, ski/ snowboard, snowmobile and generally have fun.
Comparing that description to the current town I sometimes 'live' in. Town has 700 residents and about 20 police employed. Town goes up to about 10,000 residents when a cruise ship or two is in port. There are four bars which mainly get their revenue from tourists wanting to drink something mildly cheaper than cruise ship booze. The four bars stay open at night for the seasonal employment crowd. They are a brewery, another bar which has a mystery raffle Thursday, another which has pin-up style porn on the walls and hosts a weekly dance night, and the last which closes at 5am and opens back up at 7am for breakfast. I've done extensive research already on all the watering holes in this town and have decided the last bar mentioned are where the true locals hang out. The town is mostly paved roads, about 20 blocks and is filled with jewelry stores and fur shops Most everything is based on the tourist industry. Unlike Belmont it is by no means a sleepy town. In fact it is quite lively (having only been here in the summer though I can see where this would not be the case in winter). Town here has a much younger feel, whereas Belmont has been around for a couple hundred years. This town began with the gold rush and has a reputation for being rowdy. There is a grocery store and a hardware store where locals buy pretty much whatever they need. If those two places don't have it, you don't need it. You better not anyhow because it would suck to ship it here.
Both places have their good qualities and both have their downfalls. Belmont I picture on a winters night on new years eve, where as this town I like in the summer for a brew and dancing. Hope you enjoyed a little tour of Small Town, Alaska.
No comments:
Post a Comment