I love to travel. Always have and always will. The idea of going somewhere new is thrilling to me. Maybe it is because we moved every three years growing up. Maybe it is because I like to see new architecture. Who knows. I just love to do it.
I have travelled extensively over the last five years during the Summers. I didn't go to exotic places but went to small towns. My daughter plays softball so we did quite a bit of travel for her passion. Mine too. Not only did I like going places but I loved watching her play. Last Summer I spent a week in Owensboro, Kentucky. Owensboro is situated on the Ohio River. The river is such an integral part of that community. It runs right by downtown. It was a beautiful small town. The homes had big green lawns (something we don't have much of here in the desert). The rolling hills into and out of Owensboro were fun to drive through. The vegetation was so thick I couldn't see past the next mile marker on the freeways.
This last weekend I spent a few days in Clovis, New Mexico. Clovis is much smaller than Owensboro. But it had its charm and uniqueness. Situated in Eastern New Mexico, Clovis is probably more Texan than it is New Mexican. The food is different and they talk with a twang that is unfamiliar to us Albuquerqueans.
I don't think I would be a good small town dweller. I like my anonymity and small towns certainly do not give you that. Aside from that though, I was saddened to see that in both of these small towns, located in different parts of the country, the independent business spirit is dying. Walmart, McDonalds, Burger King and Walgreens have taken over what used to be thriving small town businesses. When I go to small towns I support the local businesses. I look for Mom and Pop coffee shops. I search out hole in the wall restaurants. I love to browse through the local boutiques.
I didn't see these things in Owensboro or in Clovis. We found one barbeque place in Owensboro that was locally owned. We found a taqueria in Clovis that was family owned. What is happening to our small towns? Are the corporate interests squashing local businesses? Is the innovative American spirit taking a back seat to Reality TV? Is the economy in such bad shape that our small towns are drying up? I am thinking it is a combo of all of these things.
My uncle grew his business in a small New Mexican town. He is a pharmacist and owns an indie drug store. I remember how concerned he was when Walmart came to town. Walmart is notorious for their buying power (really...do you ever wonder how they can sell a hoodie for $5.99?) Walmart buys from China in HUGE quantities. The local businesses in small towns can't compete with this type of purchasing power. Once they move in, Walmart hires the locals but only schedules them for 38 hours a week, two huge hours short of full time employment. Why is this a cricital issue? Because to qualify for benefits at Walmart, the employee has to work full time. The locals are employed but they don't qualify for health insurance. They have to depend on the local human service departments for aid and health insurance. It is a vicious circle.
My Uncle's competitor closed his business shortly after Walmart came in. My Uncle joined a consortium of pharmacists in a larger town to survive. They used their collective powers to buy and market against a retailer that has no moral compass.
Small towns.
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