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Health & Fitness

Not at My Front Door

Like your local Farmer's Market? Even at your front door? As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for...

San Mateo is home to around 92,000 people and it's a safe assumption that at any given moment someone in our town is unhappy with a decision made by the city government.

I personally believe that the officials I elect, and the people they hire to carry out their mandates, have tough jobs. I put my faith and trust in them to look at the big picture and make the right decision for the entire community. When it comes to matters that affect me at home, my big picture stops at the end of my driveway. It is part of my city's job to ensure the betterment of the community, even if that has a negative impact on a few in that same community. In fact, even if I am one of the few (hard to believe, I know). That doesn't mean I won't go to battle to hold on to my little slice of life as I know it, but I am blessed to live in a city, state, and country, where I can express all the opinions I want and they are received with grace and politeness, even when the answer is no. Case in point, my local Farmer's Market.

Local Farmer's Markets have evolved from just a produce stop into a community gathering place. Children playing while parents meet up over aromatic baked goods. Live music  to sooth the soul, fresh, local, sustainable produce, fish mongers with the recent catch, vendors of all sorts to make life easier coming almost to your doorstep. So what could be wrong with all that? The doorstep, it's literally mine.

A couple of years ago a Farmer's Market began operating a few houses down in the local church parking lot. Now once a week, six months a year, rain or shine, what feels like the entire community descends on my street. I've become the old woman in the neighborhood that yells at the kids to get off her lawn. Not really, but I've thought it.

So every Tuesday for four hours, my neighbors and I lose the quality of life we once had at home. I cannot have company because parking is nonexistent, it is noisy, and you never know when your driveway will be blocked while someone runs for a chicken. My home is my haven from the world. Peace and tranquility are essential for me there.

Recently, the city representatives met with the few (very few) of us negatively impacted. They listened to even the most inane complaints politely. Really? Your problem is that the same band plays every week? Not that you can hear the band every week? Various compromises were made with one glaring exception, the market isn't moving. And that was the right thing for our neighborhood. Don't get me wrong, I am still unhappy about it. However, given how much the Market improves the quality of life for the majority of the community, I would make the same decision. Shhh, don't tell anyone, just meet me at the Kettle corn.

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