IDEAS
F
By Jason Arsenault
irst, let me start by stating that Gallup is my home. It has been for the last 38 years. My family moved to the Indian Hills neighborhood just in time for me to start first grade. Next, would be John F. Kennedy Middle School and then on to Gallup High School. Of course, I would leave home for a few years for college, but as soon as it was completed, I would return home to Gallup. I give you this history to establish some credibility when I talk about our city. Plus, my wife is a third generation Gallupian cementing Gallup as our home base. We are raising a family here, attend church here, have our friends and family here, own a home here, have a business here, and are invested here. When we are lucky enough to get out of town on a family vacation, we are always happy to return. Gallup is the perfect place to live, work, and raise a family. Gallup, in my opinion, has more rights than wrongs. Need something to do? We are surrounded by an outdoor playground for all ages, and the weather cooperates almost every day of the year. It is small enough that we know the teachers who teach our kids, and we know the children our kids attend school with. I can’t imagine anyone having that big of a commute, maybe for those hardcore country folks on Pine Haven
50
November 2018
Road that need thirty minutes to get into town. That is, however, more of a lifestyle choice than a necessity. You would be hard-pressed to find another town with an equal arts vibe. Food - forget about it! I will take a combination plate Christmas style in Gallup over any other dish anywhere. Things are pretty good in Gallup. All the things we love about our hometown doesn’t mean that we couldn’t make it better. Towns across the Country that earn awards like the “Best Places to Live” have some amazing attributes, as does Gallup. The one consistent thing that these “best places” always seem to have are lots of ambassadors. So, the next time you hear someone tell you they love this place, don’t assume they haven’t ever been somewhere else. Instead, get on the bandwagon and start spreading the good news. If we, as Gallupians, believe we are an amazing community, when we share that with others, they will believe it, too. The opposite also rings true—every time you make it appear that we are a community that has a lot of short comings, the listening party will believe you. My idea—get behind your hometown. Join an organization that makes this a “best place.” We have plenty of organizations that need your help. Whether your interests are in the arts, downtown development, youth sports, civic opportunities, or outdoor activities, you can find a group to get behind.
SUPPORT YOUR TOWN OF GALLUP!
