This weekend I traveled back in time. Just a short two hour drive sent me to a place 20 degrees cooler and about 40 years in the past; a place where people don't have the internet in their homes, but instead have tie-dye tapestries of Janis Joplin, a place where Sidekicks are mistaken for cameras and songs that have been played-out to the max in the valley are unheard-of new releases. This wonderland I speak of is a town called Flagstaff, Ariz.
What enables this hippie-town time capsule to survive the lure of becoming one of the Starbuck, shopping mall-ridden cities we've all grown accustomed to? Is it the higher altitude, inducing such intense vertigo to the point of finding a wormhole in the universe? Or could it be the pine trees, the unbound wildlife, views of snow-capped mountains, drinkable tap water and fresh mountain air that sustains this community? My conclusion would be the latter.
I believe that the hard-core residents of Flagstaff would like to be one with their surrounding nature. Growing their hair out, using environmental friendly soap, not showering daily (maybe weekly, based on some observation), wearing shoes made out of hemp rope, using hemp lotion and other products that stem from the Cannabis plant, all while freely exploring their carnal desires with little to no inhibitions is a way of life for the happy denizens of Flagstaff.
This haven for easy-going free spirits is a nice get-away from the usual big city life, filled with Barbie and Ken cut-outs, BMW's, designer everything and daily showers.
Flagstaff is a place where everyone wears a smile, dogs are allowed everywhere, and no one ever seems to be in a rush when the routine train stops town traffic for about 10 minutes, every 15 minutes.
The higher elevation causes the need for afternoon naps after a stroll through the quaint downtown area with an eclectic choice of restaurants and shops full of art, jewelry, clothes and blown glass. The higher elevation also intensifies the effects of alcohol, so be careful when you're bar hopping after your nap, you may have to call it an early night.
With all that Flagstaff has to offer who wouldn't love to spend a day or two in cool weather, shower if they please, be a cheap drunk and take your dog shopping and dining like you're in France? It was great, for a day or two.
Like I said it's a nice get-away, but my roommate and I were ready to get back to Tempe Sunday morning. While we drove away from the Bob Marley loving, home-made beer drinking, peace-and-love Flagstaff population, I wondered why I wanted to go home. Was I was ready for speed limits of 45 mph, for someone to steal my parking spot, to hear a song on the radio that was recorded in the 21st century, to have a reason to do my hair, to check my Facebook? Does that make me a bad person, have I sold out to The Man? Oh I don't know, I am going back next weekend.
Reach the reporter at adprice4@asu.edu.
