My Dad used to make the statement: "My trip was great, but I spent most of my time
trying to explain why I live in Newberry."
When I was younger, I didn't really understand what he meant. Now I think I'm getting
the picture.
Whenever I am away from the desert and people ask me where I live. I usually just say
"I live out in the middle of the desert." It's easier than saying Newberry
Springs and then have to go in a long dissertation explaining that it is not a suburb of
Newberry Park North West of L.A.
Every once in awhile someone will surprise me and say something like, "I stopped
there for gas the last time I went to Laughlin, which house do you live in?"
The most frequent question asked is one I'm sure we have all heard. "Why in the
world would anyone want to live in Newberry Springs, there is nothing there but a store
and a couple of gas stations." Familiar???
I usually just say, "Newberry is home, I was raised there, and I feel I belong
there."
How do you describe to these city folk what desert living is like? How do you explain
the complete absence of stress? A desert sunset after a storm? The smell of sage and
greasewood in the rain? The space and freedom to do your own thing? The quiet and
solitude? The way the community helps one another? Where conversation is still the primary
form of entertainment and not the T.V.?
Maybe we should just drop it at that and keep it our secret. They would never
understand anyway.
Copyright 1995, William E. Smith, All Rights Reserved
Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 116
Newberry Springs, CA 92365
Phone: (760) 257-1072
