I got my tighty-whities in a bunch last week over the emergence of "networking" in Floyd County and by letting my anger get the best of me I broke one of the cardinal rules of life here: Live and let live.
Whatever my feelings towards the practice of networking, I was wrong to castigate those who feel a need to use it to try and survive in these economically-strapped times. The original post and a follow up have been removed, along with the comments.
My apologies to readers of Muse and my thanks to those who took the time to point out that my actions were over the top. I’m a passionate man with strong opinions and sometimes I let both traits overcome judgment.
We now take you take you back to your regularly scheduled Musings…
Amen to that Will. Folks who are friendly and considerate of others generally find similar people everywhere they go and the converse is true as well. (There’s an old parable about that but I’ll leave that for some other time).
I’m in the real estate business and I often find myself at odds with my peers in that I don’t beleive that any and all development is good. I’m appalled when RPAC (the Realtor’s lobbying arm) endorses candidates who have a “laissez faire” attitude toward development (and business). I know there are folks in Floyd that feel they have a right to do whatever they want with their property and we should always be mindful of the rights of property owners but individual property owners don’t live in a “vacuum”. Each and every piece of land is connected to several others and owners need to think in terms of what’s good for the community as well as what’s best for themselves.
Your comment about the cost of land for younger folks hit home with me since the primary motivation for my recent land purchase was to insure that my daughter (who just married a Floyd local) would not spend the rest of her career hoping that her income would catch up with the rapidly rising land prices. We hope to build a couple of “appropriate” energy-efficient homes that will compliment the character of the area maybe even raise a new generation of Floyd “natives”.
Rick
Serena:
I understand your points but I wonder if Floyd is really known as much for its alternative lifestylers as people think. Amy and I lived in the Washington area for 23 years and when I told people that I was from Floyd County the reaction would be "oh, that’s where they have that wonderful bluegrass gathering on Friday nights." The Washington Post has written dozens of stories about the Jamboree and Floyd’s music culture.
Among NASCAR fans, Floyd is known as the home of a legend like Curtis Turner or a up-and-coming crew chief like Darian Grubb. If you do a Google search on "Darian Grubb" and "Floyd" you get 1,070 hits. If you do one on "Floyd" and "bluegrass" you get more than 1 million hits.
If you talk to Floyd’s growing Quaker community you find that they came here because one of their religion’s publications praised the county’s lifestyle and the people here.
My point is that Floyd is known for so much more than just the "hippie" culture. The alternative lifestylers had not yet arrived when I left Floyd in 1965 to pursue a career in journalism. I left for the same reasons most my age did in those days — to make a living in my chosen profession. I came back for the same reason that others do — because after 40 years of life "out there" I appreciated so much more the benefits of life "back here."
The Floyd lifestyle is unlike anything I have found after four decades of traveling the world and meeting many different people from many different cultures. I can discuss bluegrass music with a homegrown musician at the Country Store on a Friday night, argue politics with a local over eggs at the Blue Ridge on Saturday morning and talk about art with an alternative lifestyler at Cafe del Sol in the afternoon and come away from all three encounters feeling like I’ve talked with a friend.
That’s a big part part of what made coming home so special.
Been some interesting conversation here. I am proud to be a native of Floyd County to me that means I was raised here as were my parents, grandparents, great grandparents and so on. It’s great some folks who have lived here for many years consider themselves natives as well. It is a bit disheartening maybe to see so many local businesses owned by ‘newer’ natives you might say. Growing up here I knew that getting a job in Floyd meant working in a factory for probably minimum wage. I also knew that while that was good steady and hard work that most likely I could make more money in another county. Sad but true. Now as I look at the lack of industry in Floyd it makes me realize that unless you have made your ‘fortune’ if you will in another state or county and have the capital to open your own business you will not be able to make any money in Floyd still to this day.
It is also true that when I tell folks I am from Floyd County I get a lot of comments of oh yeah that’s where the ‘hippies’ have taken over. Right, wrong or indifferent that is the impression other counties have of Floyd.
Someone mentioned above how they had a top notch clogger come here to teach a dance class and none of the folks who showed up were natives. My first question would have been why not have a local person teach the class, we have many great dancers right here in our own back yard who would be more than capable of teaching a class. Then again being Floyd, we are so used to having easy access to music and dancing that lots of folks are not willing to pay $15 for a couple of hours of anything. Newcomers to the area maybe but the locals most likely not going to happen.
Anyway, I just kind of wanted to add my two cents worth. I can kind of see this subject from both points of view.
Rick:
I can understand your frustration with RPAC since I was the NAR executive in charge of the PAC from 1987-92 as Vice President for Political Programs in Washington. During most of that time (future NAR president) Layne Morrill was RPAC chairman and we spent many hours debating the issue of handing out contributions to lukearm supporters.
We faced two challenges. First, RPAC could not give out contributions without a recommendation from the state and local Realtor organizations who too often wanted us to often support candidates with weak records on NAR issues and, second, we faced a lobbying staff more interested in buying access than rewarding those who supported the cause.
My time at the Realtors came during a sabattical from journalism to learn more about government and politics. What I learned sent me hightailing back to journalism.
I agreed with your original post. Too many moving into Floyd and wanting to change it. If it was so nice and made them want to move here then why change it to their way of life. Leave us Natives and Floyd alone
I have to admit Doug you’re a class act– talented AND gracious. I didn’t think that first post really sounded like the nice guy I had met when I first began spending a lot of time getting to know folks around Floyd. Of course we all have the right to vent every so often (that’s one of situations where friends are very helpful, if you don’t wear it out). I have exercised my wonderful right as a citizen of this country (and “native” of Virginia) to live pretty much anywhere I wish, I’ve had the good fortune to find warm and welcoming (not to mention helpful) people everywhere I go.
I know too that there are always a few cantankerous stinkers here and there but I’ve found that a smile and lots of kindness will wear most of them down after a while. Inside every one of them is a nice human being that has had a little pain and just needs someone that understands and doesn’t judge them.
It’s also my belief that we’re all one family and that if we work together, we can create our own “paradise” wherever we happen take root. If we start trying to divide everyone up into “us” and “them”, you not only bring unhappiness to everyone concerned, you also have to ask yourself who YOU really are. Are you really a “native” or are you just a descendant of someone that killed, infected or drove out the natives that called the place home before you? It’s this type of thinking (seemingly genetic but learned from elders) that continues to divide our planet into artificial fifedoms with battlegrounds in-between. If we accept the fact that we’re all one family (a fact now proven by science through mitochondrial DNA), it casts everything in a different light. It doesn’t solve all the problems of the world of course but it gives us a place to begin.
Which brings me back to what we’re talking about (I bet you thought I’d never make it). If we can’t bring peace to Floyd County (or Montgomery or Giles or New Orleans or Washington D.C.), what makes us think we’re so special to begin with? All I’m asking is for people to get to know one another before they start judging and slamming the door in someone’s face. I realize that my family isn’t perfect but they’re always welcome at my house.
Peace,
Rick
Floyd County had peace before all the “new age” or “hippies” came here. We were proud of Floyd and what it stood for. Now I along with many more are ashamed what it and the town is turning into. On a typical saturday in town, how many original, hometown Floyd Countians do you see? Very few. There is nothing in town for them. All it is is a bunch who want to turn floyd into something they want and it so far left it is pathetic. Floyd County cannot survuve with “crafts” etc. I am sure very few if any clain an income on their business, which in turn generates no tax base. It is alarming to see how many receive public assistance and are too sorry to work. Most live off the income their parents send them monthly from up north to keep them down here because they are ashamed of them. This is not speculation on my part, it is known fact as some have told me this is the case. Every where I go and people know I am from Floyd they ask, “How is hippieville”? It is embarrasing. It is time the common original Floyd Countians take back what is our county and regain it to a status we are proud of.
In response Native… Doug, forgive me for using your blog to respond to a commenter. I cannot resist and I hope it’s allright. Native….Your comment really hurts. I am now gratefully celebrating my 30th anniversary this month, of my move to Floyd County. It was much different back then, quieter, simpler. I fell in love with Floyd with all of my heart and soul. I came here because I wanted to learn from the locals and live like them. And many Floydians helped me and my friends and taught us how to garden, can food, cut up a cow, etc. In exchange we helped them put up hay, fix fences….Many locals have been very kind to us and still are. Over the 30 years I have made many friendships with the local communtiy and still cherish them.
As far as economics, I almost solely shop locally and patronize many local businesses as well as “new” businesses. I try to go to Slaughters instead of Food Lion, Rite’s Print Shoppe instead of Office Max, Farmers Supply instead of Lowes, DJ’s Drive-In instead of Hardees. I have paid taxes here for 30 years. There is much more opportunity for work here than there used to be and I personally know several “new” businesses who employ local people.
There are good and bad in all types of folk. Please open your heart and mind and maybe come out on a Saturday night and meet some new people, hear a different kind of music…try something new. I brought one of the best cloggers in the USA, Cherie Sheperd, to Floyd a couple of years ago for a class. The class was only $15 for the day and I did everything I could to let the locals know about it. Of the 14 people who came, none were local Floyd folks. It nearly made me cry. I wanted desperately to share something so special with the community.
Anyway, I could go on forever on this topic. I don’t know you but I think if you sat down and talked to me for a few minutes, you might actually like me. Please know that we never wanted to change Floyd. In fact, we ourselves are upset at the newer and newest people and houses and changes that are happening here. It is your own sons and daughters who are buying the big farm places and cutting them up into plots, selling them for a huge profit and allowing huge modular homes to be built there. This, too, breaks my heart.
When I moved here I adored that everyone waved to me in my car when we passed. I still do it….but only some wave back. Thanks for listening.(if you do indeed come back to read comments on this particular page) and I hope you can understand how thankful I am to have found my home of 30 years with all of it’s gifts and beauty. I cherish you and it everyday and thank god for guiding me here.
I’ve been a “native” of Floyd for 25 years. I felt welcomed and encouraged by the locals when I came. They seemed to appreciate my interest in local culture, particularly the music, farming and mountain crafts. They helped me enormously and seemed happy to know that some of the newcomiers were interested in carrying on the traditional music and crafts. Some of their children had, by necessity, left to find work outside the county. Many of the “hippies” have long contributed to the tax base. Often, those of us in the arts earned money outside the county which we then brought to Floyd. I do patronise our local businesses. I’ve found friends and co-workers in all segments of Floyd’s population. One of the charms of living here has been the gracious acceptance of people whatever their choices. Up at the dairy barn, Jacksonville Center, is a furniture exhibit that celebrates the talent and diversity of our area. People of all kinds are attracted to Floyd’s beauty and oppertunities. Everything changes, nothing stays the same. The best we can do is to learn to live in harmony. Peace begins at home. Chris
I am not a native of Floyd, although I didn’t grow up far away. I think where folks come from is not very relevant. What matters is their character and the way they treat others. Floyd will continue to grow and change with new residents who aren’t from Floyd. This is reality and longing for the old days isn’t going to change that.
There are concerns I have about Floyd’s growth, but where the new folks are moving from or what they believe aren’t on the list. A concern I have that I don’t hear from others is that young people from Floyd who want to stay in Floyd County are starting to get priced out of the real estate market.