PD Editorial: Five things to be thankful for about Sonoma County

The history of Thanksgiving is filled with examples of people pausing in seemingly the bleakest of times to give thanks.

From early settlers beset by the elements in a hostile land, to combatants in our nation’s bloodiest wars, to people struggling through economic depression, Thanksgivings in difficult times are more the norm than the exception. This holiday finds us in a time of terrorism abroad and political division at home.

Although signs of economic recovery abound in Sonoma County, the stories vary depending on the home. Unemployment remains low at 4.2 percent but wage stagnation remains an issue for many. Soaring property owners and escalating rents benefit property owners, but they leave many renters and first-time buyers struggling to stay in the area.

All the same, there are numerous reasons why we choose to live here and there’s much cause for thankfulness. What do we embrace about life in Sonoma County? In honor of Thanksgiving, here are five examples:

Environment: Few places on Earth offer the diversity of natural beauty - rugged shoreline, redwood cathedrals, vineyard valleys, mountain ranges - as what we enjoy here.

Goodwill: People here tend to be comfortable with one another’s differences. We’re not perfect, but if you talk to people who move away, they miss the sense of acceptance in Sonoma County.

Community engagement: This is something, perhaps, only editorial writers consider on a holiday like this. But we’re thankful for the civic engagement that exists in this area and the interaction that’s created by the many who send us letters and guest opinions each day. Despite limiting you to 200 words per letter and one opinion piece every 90 days, we receive more letters each day than we can publish. The conversation that occurs on these pages is sometimes messy, but it’s never boring, and people do it for one reason above all others: They care about making this a better place to live.

Generosity: For many families, Thanksgiving meals come today thanks only to those who have given to the Redwood Empire Food Bank, the Redwood Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and a number of other organizations. According to the National Corporation for Community Service, roughly 25 percent of Californians volunteer on a regular basis. Other studies have shown that in Sonoma County, it’s closer to 40 percent.

Fresh produce: From Gravenstein apples and Bosc pears to chard and white pomegranates - to say nothing of a world-renown grape harvest - Sonoma County’s bounty is rich. And, thankfully, the opportunities to purchase directly from growers are only increasing.

We haven’t even mentioned the benefits of Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts - and all the cultural benefits provided there and at other local venues.

This has been a growing year for many families and challenging one for others. But on this Thanksgiving Day, many of us won’t find it difficult to list the things that make life here something worth celebrating.

Happy Thanksgiving.