Great place to call 'home'

When looking to buy a new home, consider what the neighborhood and community has to offer.

When we first moved to Petaluma way back in 1977, we knew right away what a great decision this was. Just across the Marin County line, only 35 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, three hours to Tahoe and 20 minutes from the coast, Petaluma had the location we wanted.

Sure, it had more rain and wind than our previous home in Southern California, and winter nights were cooler, but that’s the ambience of Northern California. As to the rain and wind — well, it tends to slow our lives down, and give us a sense of seasons. The cooler nights are all the better to sip a glass of Sonoma County red wine and cuddle up by the fireplace.

Compared to Southern California, where the vast majority of homes were built and developed post-World War II, Petaluma sports a colorful history going back to the 1850s. Being a unique river town connected to the San Francisco Bay, it spawned commerce and trade and led to a classic downtown filled with ironfront and brick buildings, a smattering of Victorian homes and even a palm park. From chicken coops to grapevines to Telecom Valley to “American Graffiti,” Petaluma indeed has a rich history.

But first, back to location. Upon arrival as newlyweds, Petaluma seemed to be the hub of the wheel, with all spokes leading to rich experiences. We headed west to Tomales Bay, past Inverness, where we could swim without a wet suit at Shell Beach. Then we traveled further to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, with hundreds of steps leading down to the rocky outcropping where we’d spot gray whales breaching in the early morning. Traveling north featured a stop at Healdsburg’s square, perhaps a bike ride up Dry Creek past quaint wineries, and either an overnighter at the Benbow Inn or passing through Anderson Valley on the way to Mendocino. East was world-class vineyards in Napa, and skiing and snowboarding at our footsteps in Tahoe. And south? What finer city than San Francisco with its unique neighborhoods, great sports teams and great restaurants.

Then there’s the “elbow-room” factor. Sonoma County has 466,000 residents (2008) in 1,768 square miles. Compare that to Orange County, which has 3,010,000 in only 789 square miles. Traffic? Sure, we’ve got our problems. But once again when compared to Southern California, it takes on a different perspective. But the clincher for Petaluma is: one mile from anywhere in town, and you’re suddenly in the country. Few towns can boast of the fine blend between being cosmopolitan and country.

I suppose we knew it when we moved here, but by the time our fourth child was born, we appreciated that Petaluma was truly a “family town.” Sports programs for kids are huge, with super soccer and basketball programs, Redwood Gymnastics, Little League baseball, Petaluma girl’s softball, Pop Warner football and Petaluma swim teams to name a few.

The arts are not to be left out, with Cinnabar’s great drama and musical programs for kids, Petaluma dance classes and a whole host of school music programs and city sponsored classes for the arts, as well as the Phoenix Theater’s music and drop-in center. The healthy rivalries of east side and west side between Petaluma High School and Casa Grande High School, where kids know their opponents and many are close friends, makes for a special town.

Although Petaluma doesn’t have a town square, we do have a great downtown. Petaluma offers variety for your every interest. And the events that are centered here bring the city together.

And then there are the not-so-obvious perks of Petaluma. From right here in town, Petaluma and Sonoma County offer some of the best cycling routes in California — country roads, less traffic, tough climbs and smooth flats. Hiking Helen Putnam Park offers a chance to see Sonoma County wildlife in hikes through the woods, while Shollenberger Park provides long walks across the wetlands, with incredible wide-open vistas.

Perhaps most importantly, what people love about Petaluma are the friendly people. Perhaps some of it is attributable to Petaluma being a “stand-alone” city — not blending in with either Rohnert Park or Novato. Petalumans have a sense of “being” and “place.” And, although Petaluma is more than 50,000 in population, it’s still a small town. You know the local grocers and bank tellers by name. You know your local insurance agent, accountant and Realtor on a first-name basis. It’s just a plain ‘Friendly Town!”

Finally, you know you’re hooked on Petaluma when you leave on vacation, or go on a visit to friends or relatives outside of the area, and you can’t wait to get back home.

(Peg King is with Peg King & Associates of Petaluma. She can be reached at 769-4328)