Martinez or Mayberry, California!

كن حذرا عندما تطرد شياطينك خارجا لا ترمي أفضل ما لديك

Where's Aunt Bee!?!

In 2012, I transferred from Verizon Wireless in the Colorado Springs, Colorado to Verizon Wireless in Walnut Creek, California. I drove my 2001 Saturn SL from Denver to California right after Christmas in the middle of winter. The biggest worry on my mind at that time was leaving my family and not being able to celebrate the 2013 new year with them. I remember it being cold outside and at that time I remember that I had owned my car for almost 12 or 13 years and it had never failed to get me from point A to B. I remember driving through cold Utah and getting out to fill the gas tank at a truck stop and my breath just froze in mid-air. I remember taking my small little 4 cyclinder over the Sierra Nevada Mountains with piles of snow covering the mountain pass and after the descending the California mountains it seemed like in an instant all the snow disappeared and it was smooth sailing through Sunny Cal. I was never so happy to get through so much snow. For much of the trip through the mountains, I was the only person on the road and which allowed me to drive as slow as possible, usually no more than 30 miles per hour. After finally reaching Walnut Creek, I booked a long term stay at a Holiday Inn and begin looking for an apartment. For me I had always relied on Craiglist to find help wanted or rent Ads, as I don't believe Airbnb was a big thing yet, in 2013. But eventually I found a listing on Craigslist for a condo on Cordova Lane in Martinez, California, which the best places I've ever lived besides Taylor, Mississippi. I rented a room with an outdoor balcony surrounded by big California pine trees that reminded me of the red wood forest. The trees were probably as old as the red woods. Every morning the squirrels and chipmunks that stayed in the tree next to my balcony would wake me up as they jumped from the tree to balcony and sometimes across the roof. The Room had a huge window facing the east so along with the squirrel's the sun would wake me up if I forgot to close the blinds. . Martinez was perfect. I mean literally it never rained in Northern California. Martinez, California was my version of Mayberry, North Carolina. It's a small beautiful town with all the major stores and restuarants located in a small little shopping center. Walmart, Home Depot and my favorite sushi spot were all in the same location and sometimes I would walk there on the weekends just to get out and enjoy the sunshine and the open air. Man I loved the farmers market in downtown Martinez next to the pier. Every fruit you can imagine, juice stands, home made donuts and the different varieties of grapes was my favorite. Grapes are my favorite fruit and I could spend all day tasting the different juices and grape jellies. Alot of the farmers would let you try their products before purchasing them so I would have a full stomach from free food by the time I left the market. Then after the farmers market you can stroll over to pier and sit on the park benches and watch the joggers, or fishmen, or kids playing in the little park or you could walk over to the library and check out a book to enjoy while taking in the relaxation under the shade trees. Downtown Martinez on the weekends felt like a huge community event which I had never experienced before. It was just a down home place in the middle of California. Historically Martinez has always been a targeted location for immigrants of the 1800's to start new and productive lives. So in a sense Martinez has always been a welcoming place, and that same spirit of welcoming new communities continues until today. So if you ever pass through Northern California check out Martinez, California you won't be disappointed. It's the hidden gem of NoCal!

Martinez or Mayberry, California!

Where's Aunt Bee!?!

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