Vacationing and Admitting We Are From LA

I wonder what my kids think about the animosity we get when we travel?

We are still on vacation in a small mountain town in the Eastern Sierras. There’s a black pick up truck parked out front with a sticker that says in all caps:

NOBODY IS STOKED THAT YOU MOVED HERE.

He, assuming it’s a he also slightly parks in the grass, of which I’m assuming he lives. It’s aggressive but I’m aware of this vibe when one vacations in small towns.

In 2021 I drove back to Iowa to see my family with my 3 kids. Driving with California plates always brings up conversation. I once had a man tell me, while we were in the Black Hills of South Dakota, how much he hated Los Angeles and couldn’t wait to leave it whenever he had to go there for work. I nodded, yes, I understand.

I told him how much we were enjoying South Dakota, a place I also used to live.

When I rented a cabin for a month in Okoboji, Iowa with my female cousin and our 5 kids, in total, with no men, the rumor around the town was that we were Jewish, lesbians from California. They farmer neighbor greeted us in anger, “You’ll be here all month?”

We had to share a dock. I know how to share a dock, I know how to drive a boat. I made sure the kids jumped off and swam in so we wouldn’t bother her while she sunbathed. I figured she only had July filled with sunshine, we’d go back to California’s endless sunny days.

Once, while in Des Moines while shopping I heard a woman bemoan to someone else that DTLA was filled with rats. I slipped the pricey dress off that I was going to buy and just smiled and nodded my head.

So, we are the city easy to make fun of, this I understand. Though I find it a city that unveils surprises for you for years. Maybe a lifetime.

Would I prefer to be living back in a smaller town, most days yes.

But I live in LA. We visit small towns as I love the pace and we enjoy the outdoors.

And if you come visit Los Angeles we will ask you where you are from and tell you it sounds nice.

There is a grocery store clerk up here in the small mountain town that I always watch. She’s got a low, loud voice, short gray hair and always seems angry. During covid I listened to her bemoaning the crowds, I too was doing the same. But because she’s so loud, I heard her say there was an empty lake nobody knew about. I heard her say the name to a fellow local.

The next day my family and I had a lovely day swimming and fishing in a private lake in the mountains. Though we would have said hello if anyone else showed up.