The Happy Valley
I’m heading east on the Mass Pike returning from a ten day vacation in Westhampton – a small town near Northampton. This part of Pioneer Valley is right up my alley and I leave it reluctantly and with a heavy heart. Also known as the Happy Valley, at least this part has much that appeals to me. The people here are educated, liberal, tolerant, and seem to have similar sensibilities regarding quality of life.
The streets are remarkably clean – even the rural ones. The stores are mostly mom and pop operations – I didn’t see one big box store the whole time. Fast food and chain donut shops exist but in moderation. I saw many historic properties with proud banners proclaiming “Your CPA Dollars At Work”. The area is literally loaded with paved bike paths built on old rail lines. Northampton is the lesbian capital of the US and judging from what I saw every town in MA could use a lot more lesbians. Open space abounds and there are serious well thought out plans for preservation. It’s a stark contrast to the piece meal/knee jerk efforts of most towns.
The people here have a glow that comes with a high quality of life and a noticeable lack of low rent dipshits tossing their Burger King cups out the window as they cruise past the empty downtown storefronts on their way to Walmart.
Anchored by five large universities, the Northampton area seems to have hit on a societal sweet spot that has a lot going for it.
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