Welcome to a New Town!

We've been moving... it's been a long process, but we're finally starting to feel settled in our home. The fun part of learning a new city, finding all the stores we need, discovering where the cheapest gas can be found, and exploring fun things to do is just beginning! But the biggest thing we have to get used to? This is a big city, with big city issues!

Our very first day in Sacramento, I went to the Safeway just a few blocks from our house to get some doughnuts for the guys who were coming to help us move in that morning. As I was leaving the parking lot in my car, about 10 yards away from me I saw the store manager talking with a "bummy" sort of guy. All of a sudden, the guy opens up his jacket and flashes the manager (I have no idea why - his back was to me) and the manager lunges toward him. He takes of running - straight at my car! I hit the locks and the gas and sped out of there... no car-jacker for me, thank you very much.

Later that morning, we met one of our neighbors - a guy just beginning retirement from the Highway Patrol. He told us all about the crime in the area, and that one time, these people left their garage open while the kids were playing outside. A van pulled up, a couple guys jumped out, and grabbed a few bikes from the garage and drove off, while the kids were watching, too surprised to do anything.

And then, we decided we needed to find a Target. Super Wal-Mart is right there with everything imaginable in the store, except the water filter we needed. So we went online, found the closest Target, and hopped in the car. We got off on the exit, and discovered a police barricade preventing us from turning left like we wanted to do... so we went right. There was a lot of congestion on the road (as happens when stuff is blocked off), and there were tons of cops. As we are waiting for a chance to turn around, a cop right across the median from us runs to her car and grabs a big old gun! We got a little further up and we could see a bunch of caution tape, news crews, and tons of cops. There were 2 helicopters and a plane circling the area as well. We finally made our way out of the area, and when we got home, we hopped online and discovered the reason for all the police action. A nearby bank had been robbed at 1:30 in the afternoon, with hostages. A cop had been shot (luckily, not a bad injury), and the guys all eventually took off and led the police on some pursuits. They caught the 4 guys, but still...

It has been several weeks, and nothing more has happened near us. But I've become addicted to checking the arrest logs!

Please don't panic Mom. I really do feel safe. I just will proceed with caution around here and remember I'm not in a safe, small town anymore. This is a big city!

And there are lots of good things about living here too. More to come soon.