Thoughts after visiting Utah
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2022 2:52 pm
We just recently returned from a week long visit to Utah.
For background I spent a few years living in Utah County during my high school years after family moved there from the PNW. That was 20+ years ago. My family still lives there and we visit a few times a year.
Traffic: can traffic get really worse? It seems there are cars everywhere all the time. Well, Sunday’s are better.
Costco: seems many Mormons have forgotten about that one silly rule about keeping the sabbath day holy. Especially the part that says don’t go to Costco on Sunday.
Houses: ya’ll know you have to heat and cool those McMansions right? How the hell are my kids going to afford a house? How the hell do you afford a house AND pay 10% pre-tax tithing contributions to the church? Single income households? Do they still exist in Utah?
Car Washes: it’s about damn time Utah has embraced the car wash facility. Must be a California thing that moved to Utah with all the Californians who have fled.
Silicon Slopes: it’s a catchy phrase and explains why I’ve never heard of half the Company’s named on the buildings along the freeway.
Coffee Shops: should be a really good indicator that the word of wisdom is a relic of the past. Perhaps the California’s are to blame again?
Geographical trends: it appears the length of your shorts get longer the further South you drive.
Pollution: going to blame the Californians and the Sunday shoppers again.
Temples: they’re everywhere. Pretty soon they will start to fill in the gaps between the current temples. Wait for Alpine and Highland to get announced soon. Then comes Lindon South, Pleasant Grove North, and Orem East temples to be announced. But wait, there’s more! Provo Southwest, Provo City Center II, and Provo MTC temple! Timpanagos II, and Draper Top Of the Mountain Temple are coming soon.
Us vs. Them: perhaps this was more inside my head then real but it felt like there was a lot of virtue signaling going on though clothing choices, bumper stickers, and choices where to eat. The Mormons are at Olive Garden. The non-Mormons ate at Strap Tank Brewery.
Soda shops: you all know what I mean on this one.
Church buildings: obviously the LDS chapels are a dime a dozen. What caught my attention was the other churches that have popped up here and there. Mostly small meeting places to worship such as a suite in the old vacant strip mall, an old house off the beaten path, or even an old LDS building from the 1950’s long sold off from the real estate portfolio. Most likely by some GA’s relative who has become a real estate investor. Who knows.
Summary: Utah, while it appears it’s losing some of the Mormon facade, it’s still a Mormon state run by the church. The state liquor stores are evidence of this. Which by the way, how the hell are you supposed to buy a bottle of wine when the Costco and Sprouts don’t have a wine section? I guess I should have just bought ice cream. There was plenty of ice cream in those stores where the alcohol should be!
It’s a beautiful place and often think it would be nice to move back. But then again, the other 49 states have nice parts too.
For background I spent a few years living in Utah County during my high school years after family moved there from the PNW. That was 20+ years ago. My family still lives there and we visit a few times a year.
Traffic: can traffic get really worse? It seems there are cars everywhere all the time. Well, Sunday’s are better.
Costco: seems many Mormons have forgotten about that one silly rule about keeping the sabbath day holy. Especially the part that says don’t go to Costco on Sunday.
Houses: ya’ll know you have to heat and cool those McMansions right? How the hell are my kids going to afford a house? How the hell do you afford a house AND pay 10% pre-tax tithing contributions to the church? Single income households? Do they still exist in Utah?
Car Washes: it’s about damn time Utah has embraced the car wash facility. Must be a California thing that moved to Utah with all the Californians who have fled.
Silicon Slopes: it’s a catchy phrase and explains why I’ve never heard of half the Company’s named on the buildings along the freeway.
Coffee Shops: should be a really good indicator that the word of wisdom is a relic of the past. Perhaps the California’s are to blame again?
Geographical trends: it appears the length of your shorts get longer the further South you drive.
Pollution: going to blame the Californians and the Sunday shoppers again.
Temples: they’re everywhere. Pretty soon they will start to fill in the gaps between the current temples. Wait for Alpine and Highland to get announced soon. Then comes Lindon South, Pleasant Grove North, and Orem East temples to be announced. But wait, there’s more! Provo Southwest, Provo City Center II, and Provo MTC temple! Timpanagos II, and Draper Top Of the Mountain Temple are coming soon.
Us vs. Them: perhaps this was more inside my head then real but it felt like there was a lot of virtue signaling going on though clothing choices, bumper stickers, and choices where to eat. The Mormons are at Olive Garden. The non-Mormons ate at Strap Tank Brewery.
Soda shops: you all know what I mean on this one.
Church buildings: obviously the LDS chapels are a dime a dozen. What caught my attention was the other churches that have popped up here and there. Mostly small meeting places to worship such as a suite in the old vacant strip mall, an old house off the beaten path, or even an old LDS building from the 1950’s long sold off from the real estate portfolio. Most likely by some GA’s relative who has become a real estate investor. Who knows.
Summary: Utah, while it appears it’s losing some of the Mormon facade, it’s still a Mormon state run by the church. The state liquor stores are evidence of this. Which by the way, how the hell are you supposed to buy a bottle of wine when the Costco and Sprouts don’t have a wine section? I guess I should have just bought ice cream. There was plenty of ice cream in those stores where the alcohol should be!
It’s a beautiful place and often think it would be nice to move back. But then again, the other 49 states have nice parts too.
