Los Alamos, a little nick in the map of New Mexico, is a bubble of its own, and for those of you who live or have lived there, you know what I'm talking about. Built on the Pajarito Plateau, the absurdly green (I blame the golf course) and undoubtedly nerdy town is set apart from the rest of the desert. From physical appearance to population personality, LA (not California) is what the kids would call "unique." It's no wonder that the location was chosen as the construction site for the A-bomb. I, on the other hand, have known the place as "home" for the majority of my lifetime, and despite its quirks, I know I'll be missing more than just a few attributes that make Los Alamos, Los Alamos, as my time comes to depart East.
1. Random Trails Everywhere
Walk anywhere in Los Alamos, and you can pretty much expect there to be some sort of hiking or biking trail nearby. There's even a trail behind Smith's, which is probably as close as it gets to metropolitan.
2. The Boredom
About a week ago, I went to lunch with a summer colleague who will be heading off elsewhere after August ends.
"What do teens do around here? I'd think this place is just good for retirement, besides the Lab of course."
When we're not hiking, biking, rock climbing, or pursuing some other outdoor adventure, hanging out with friends comes down to Starbucks and Ashley Pond. Yes, there's a pool, yes there's the Teen Center, and yes there's those rumored basement parties that all the parents of six-year olds worry will spoil their children, but when push comes to shove we all gotta admit that Los Alamos has little to offer in the recreation department. I know I will surely be missing the quiet that comes with a good dose of boredom.
3. Chile Works
Breakfast burritos. Yum. Granted, there's so much stuffing that goes into these things that they end up looking more like tacos wrapped in tin foil, but you really can't get them anywhere else in the world. Green chile, red chile, Christmas, it's all to die for. There's even a "fatty" option (extra potatoes) for those days that call for an extra dose of comfort food. I still need to try that before I leave...
4. Jokes About Radioactivity
"It's in the water." "The people glow."
Who's gonna understand why I'm so weird after I leave the bubble?
5. Soft Serve Saturday
Super Smith's. Free soft serve on Saturdays. Need I say more?
6. "Dr." Confusion
A county with one of the highest PhDs per capita, Los Alamos is also home to a population filled with people who brush aside there "Dr." title. Though it's kinda taboo to call people Dr. _____ (unless they're in the medical profession), there are always those uncomfortable moments when you don't know how to address a person you're meeting for the first time. I'll probably miss this a little less than everything else on this list.
7. Main Hill Sunsets
Though the sunlight can be quite bothersome when driving up Main Hill towards the end of the day, if timed right, the sunsets driving up are absolutely breathtaking. The view of the canyon to the right of the guardrail, along with the red and purple hues of the sky, allows the viewer to lose themself in the marvel of the landscape. At moments like those, I'm reminded why New Mexico is truly the "Land of Enchantment."
8. The Overpass
Whenever there's an event going on, and word-of-mouth fails to do its job, you can always rely on posters hung across the overpass to keep you updated. This is one of those small-town things that's odd to look back on with any emotion at all, but I shall do so with fondness.
9. Fugitive
I swear the curfew is 7:00PM here (not really). The town is however quite quiet at night, and when the sun goes down during the warmer months, Los Alamos becomes a great place to play fugitive. Running from the chasers, hiding out behind buildings and bushes, and fulfilling a mission (reaching the final destination) can be very thrilling. This is definitely something I'll miss.
10. Always Bumping Into Someone You Know
With the small variation in places to go and things to do, it's no wonder that people usually run into each other once they step out of their homes. Even when I'm looking and feeling like a miser, a brief conversation, a hug, a smile, are always welcome. This is what small-town vibes are all about. I'll look forward to this when I come home.
