Welcome Neighbor

Word has spread of the treasures of the land, air and water in our county.  More and more people are moving here, seeking these riches, and the rate of this growth is increasing.  I'd like to welcome our new neighbors, and offer some things to think about.  Things to consider about how all of us, new comers and old timers alike, can act to keep this a great place to live.

Think about population density.  The reason a lot of us want to live here is so that we can enjoy the spectacular mountains, swift-running streams, ancient forests, quiet beaches, and fertile farmlands.  If we are willing to snuggle up a bit we can keep more of these things around to appreciate.  If we're willing to live closer together, in townhouses, multi-story buildings or in modes thouses nearer each other, we will obliterate less of the beauty that brought us here.

Think about how the way we travel about affects the place we all call home. Traffic isn’t bad here, yet. But we can easily create congestion and air pollution equal to Seattle or LA. Use your car as little as possible. If you must drive, consolidate many trips into few. Carpool. Take the bus. Better yet, get outside as a pedestrian or bike rider and really enjoy this place instead of just seeing it from inside a can.

Think about water, where it comes from, how it is used and where it goes. Get information from ReSources or Public Works. Take the watershed pledge. We have ample clean water now, wastefulness and carelessness can change that.

Think about your local economy. The services and shops that make this a vital community depend on buying locally. How and where we make our purchases is a direct and effective way to build our community. Spend your money at a locally owned and operated business, and most of your money remains in our local economy. That same money can come around to you again, as the owners and workers of the local company acquire the goods or services that you provide. Taxes on this local money pay for the public services we all need.

Buy from a local vendor that is part of a national or regional chain, and the worker's wages might get recycled back into the local economy, but that's about all. The profits earned by the business go to corporate headquarters, which are somewhere else. Buy from a catalog, or on the internet, and none of your money stays here.

Think about public facilities and local government. We’ve got a good track record of support for parks and schools which needs to continue. Active citizen involvement in local government, even if all you do is study the issues and vote, will help keep us on the right track. 

Think about how daily human interactions set the tone of a community. Be friendly and polite. Get out and talk face-to-face with real people, your neighbors. Encounters and conversations we have at coffee shops, stores, plays, concerts, or just on the street give us a living society.

Think about getting involved with groups that help preserve and sustain our natural landscape and our cultural environment. Whatcom Land Trust, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and other local organizations work to help keep the natural beauty and vitality of our county intact. Other groups, such as Allied Arts, Whatcom Symphony and the Theatre Guild work to provide for our cultural needs. These few groups named are just the tip of the iceberg. Part of the attraction of this place is that many people are active and involved in a wide range of positive interests. There is probably a local group that can support whatever type of community involvement that inspires you. If not, join with your neighbors and create one.

Think about the future. The way we act and the things we do today shape what we, and this place we call home, will become. Whatcom County can become an even greater place than it is today, or it can become crowded, cruddy and crime-ridden. What this place will become will be the inevitable result of the choices we make today. Think about those choices.