Facing Arizona: Community is part of what makes Arizona great

Editor’s note: Facing Arizona is a series that will appear on KTAR.com and social media  — follow KTAR News on Instagram and Facebook for updates — highlighting unique and everyday people across our state and give you a glimpse into their lives.

Hello, my name is Natalie, I am fifty years old, and I have lived in Arizona since 1982. I was born in Gallop, New Mexico and lived in Oregon for a few years before moving here. My father was a salesman and went where the money was, and in 1982, the money was in Arizona.

I chose to stay in Arizona because of family, my mother and brother both reside here. I love to travel, and here in Arizona, the people are good, and more importantly, it just feels like home to me. My experience has been, for the most part, the people here are kind and generous.

You don’t see many angry people walking the streets. When I visit New York, I see angry people, but not here, and I feel that is a fabulous thing. I feel there are two types of community, the one that is created on social media, and the one that involves face-to-face interaction.

I have spent the last two-and-a-half years really getting involved in my communities here in Peoria, Phoenix and Scottsdale, building those face-to-face relationships. It has been a very fulfilling experience.

So, it is my opinion, seeing what have in that time frame, that community involvement, that sense of traditional community, has grown exponentially. I feel that is a beautiful thing, and I believe that is one of the many things that make Arizona great. —Natalie