22. You probably know other individuals who have emerging sage leadership talents and skills but are not currently involved in the public life of our community. Why do you believe they choose to be uninvolved? What might be done to encourage their involvement?
I believe individuals do not volunteer due to competing priorities in their life. This includes the need to work instead of volunteering. Sometimes I think it’s a lack of a philanthropic spirit or understanding. I’m pretty shocked about how few people in my core group of friends are civic-minded. They volunteer in their kids’ school, but that’s pretty much it. It’s amazing to me because there’s an incredible older generation here who do volunteer, but not my generation so much. Another reason individuals do not volunteers is lack of confidence. I’ve seen it with some women who have been at-home moms. That’s the thing about feminism. We have had this opportunity to be workers. Some chose that, while others who didn’t have ended-up feeling resentful. So they’re under-appreciated.
There are many non-profits for this small community, and people are really spread thin. Anybody who is identified as having a dime or a brain gets picked to be on a Board. My family and I get that, but most of our friends don’t because they’re under the radar
23. One final question: It is often said that the quality of life in our community is highly attractive and unusual. Do you believe this to be true? (If yes): What are the three or four things about our community that you most value and make you want to continue living here?
I do feel we have a unique community here. From my perspective, it’s mostly to due to the presence of highly diverse arts. We have an incredibly strong foundation for a variety of arts, and you don’t usually have arts so represented in a population this small. I think the natural beauty and our weather also makes it unique. We get four seasons, and there are not many places in California that have this. Ours is also a very vocal community.
It’s so different for me here, having grown up in a giant city. I love the feeling of going to the farmer’s market on Saturday and knowing everybody and feeling I’m part of a small community. There are also many excellent opportunities for education for children. It’s an interesting spiritual community as well. There are many different perspectives, from yoga to church. And politically it’s a fascinating place. There are super conservatives on one side and an intense counter-culture on the other. It’s so interesting here. It’s a great place to be.
24. Is there anything else you’d like to say or ask as we close?
None.
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