Learning to rethink

Growing up my family traveled the I-95 corridor along the east coast more than most people, and on any trip, we always visited a Cracker Barrel. The reason? Consistency. That and the availability of vegetables. My mother liked that she knew what we were getting and the opportunity to get something green.

Now, however, I have to admit that I have very mixed feelings about the homogeneity of the United States. In am not a huge fan of shopping centers or driving through a town and seeing all the same restaurants that I see in every other town. I am sad about the loss of local establishments, local color, and a sense of community that I imagine these establishments to provide. Anywhere I go, I search up and down for a good coffee shop, and I am not usually happy until I find one that “feels right.” I often prefer the unpredictable. I am often dragging my husband into places that look a little sketch, just because they have a “local” air about them, and I am willing to take the risk.

But being new in LA has challenged my usual distaste for the predictable.
Today I went to Whole Foods. Sure there are plenty of other grocery stores around, and I’m sure they are all just fine. I am even loving checking out the Trader Joe’s that I always wished for when we lived in Colorado. But I didn’t go to Whole Foods because they are better or have better options. I went because they are familiar. They are known. When I wander up and down the aisles, the offerings are predictable, so much so that when I found a jar of 365 salsa, I hugged it to my chest and smiled. For the last two years, I have had a lot of issues with food, and Whole Foods is one of the places that I have been able to find a lot of foods that I can eat. For this reason, I love walking up and down the aisles and feeling at home.
Since our move here, Panera has been a similar experience for me. When I walk inside, I know what to expect. I know that I can eat a bagel, and it will be good. I can use the internet, get work done, and the atmosphere is fine.

This is not to say that I have not tried out new places. I have visited a cute cafe for lunch, and I have tried out a local bakery. I have also had fun visiting a local bookstore and discovering a local yarn shop. But I am surprised by my desire to find something that is known. In the midst of upheaval and transition, there is something comforting about walking into a grocery store that I do not have to figure out. And there is something calming about seeing a Panera sign and knowing what it is and that I can get wifi there.

This realization is a challenge to me and has made me think about community and comfort and that maybe there is a place for all types of establishments. I still really dislike how everything looks the same everywhere, but maybe homogeneity is not always at odds with community. Or maybe it just has something different to offer. Either way, I was glad this week for the salsa and the chance to think about some of my assumptions.