South County is a big community!

Community. I never had a complete grasp of this word until I moved to Anderson.

I've lived in big cities like Seattle and San Francisco, suburbs and small town across the Northwest. But I've never lived in a place that has created such a strong sense of community as this one.

People who live in the South County are rooted in their community. Many residents have multiple generations of family in the area.

They know their neighbors. They say hi to each other in the grocery store. I've lived in lots of other places where it's rare for people to say hi to strangers or even their neighbors. They are concentrating so much on themselves that they forget to acknowledge those around them.

This is a lonely way of living.

Even though I lived and worked in the South County for only a year, it didn't take long for me to feel like it was home.

It's always a challenge to begin somewhere new. You don't know how people will treat you, or if they will embrace you.

My co-workers and all those I've come across in the South County have made me feel at home here.

And though it's time for me to move on to be closer to my loved ones, and to pursue my master's degree, a part of me will always consider this area as home.

During my time as the Sports Editor and Education Reporter at the Valley Post, coaches have treated me with respect and have never questioned whether a woman can perform the duties of a sports editor. School teachers and administrators have played straight with me, even in tough or controversial times. Everyone I've interviewed has treated me with respect and kindness.

When it comes down to it, a community is all about the people who live there. When I look back at the South County I'll remember a great community.