Me Being Ignorant

Provo Canyon

I grew up in Salt Lake City.  Other than the weather I think it is a pretty dang good place to live and grow up.  I am sick of only having 4 months of good weather each year but that is another story.  Something I noticed growing up in SLC is that it was popular to rip on Provo and Utah county in general.  We would always say how we would NEVER want to live inside that "bubble" in "happy valley" with all the "zoobies!"

We liked the fact that we had some diversity where we lived.  I hear people who live outside of Utah saying this same sort of thing about Utah as a state, especially LDS people.  I fly with other pilots who tell me all about how they are weirded out by having all these nice people around them all the time and that there is no exposure to certain elements to give you some challenges and worldly experiences....................really?  Is that what you want?

I lived in Provo for a little over a year.  We had been living out of state in Orlando, Vegas, and Phoenix for about the previous 3 years so I was a little apprehensive about jumping into Provo.  I was proud to be a Utah outsider and found all of these amazing things that Utah didn't have.  I will tell you now that if Provo were closer to the Salt Lake airport I would never have left.  Provo is fantastic.  You should see the teenagers down there.  They are all super impressive and light-years ahead of most kids in terms of goals and maturity.  The people ARE really are nice and despite what you have heard they are genuine.  Provo has much better weather than SLC as well.  I don't know why but there was not nearly as much snow and more clear days.  There is a ton of recreation in Provo up the canyon and will all the facilities of BYU.  Don't forget the lake that we all think is so dirty.  Some Provo residents (my former Provo self included now) relish the fact that people tend to stay away from Utah Lake.  I have never seen smoother water in Utah at times in the middle of the day.  There is crime in Provo, but not much.  The high schools have great rivalries and athletics.  The airport in Provo now offers commercial service to Denver and I am sure will grow in the coming years.

Now a little more about that "bubble."  What are we striving for as a society?  I would like to think it is what is inside this bubble.  Now that I have a family I want to give us all the best chance we can have to be successful in what we want to achieve in life.  I believe the bubble provides many of these things.  Less distractions, great examples, a safe and friendly environment, close and caring neighbors are a few of the things I can think of.  Oh and a solid ward ball team.  Our neighborhood in South Jordan seems like a little bubble and I really like it.

Outside of Provo and Utah there are great youth getting through the challenges of being in the world and I know it is harder.  Some say these kids they are stronger people if they can get through growing up in the world but I disagree.  I think once you grow up enough to the point where you are making your own decisions and thinking for yourself your level of strength is up to you.  It is getting to that point that I would like giving someone the best chance to arrive to successfully.

So when you think of Provo, Utah Valley or Utah don't judge too quickly.  This is a great place to live. (other than the weather :)