The Charm of a General Store

Long before Walmart, CostC0, Target, and other big box type stores, there were the "little box stores" known as "the general store." Located in small towns/villages across America they were the lifeline for those folks who lived in the far outposts of America. One of the beauties of leaving the congested, over trafficked land of urban America where the big box stores are on every corner is finding the "little box store" that still exists in many places in this country! On the High Road to Taos between Chimayo and Taos, is the mountain hugging village of Truchas. Literally , half of the village clings to a mountain side. One small jiggle of the earth could send houses, churches, mobile homes, and people plunging to the valley below. These villages are simple outposts where people have been born,lived, and died. They tend to be mostly Native Americans and native born Spanish speaking descendants of those who explored this special land. And, there are those who are escaping something in their lives...urban chaos, the police, life, or whatever has chased them up these mountains. Their homes are very basic. I thought Texas had a plethora of mobile homes, but New Mexico must be a close second. The drive into Espanola or Taos is time consuming and requires a great deal of sobriety/alertness. The switchbacks make for interesting driving. So, enter the Truchas General Store.
The residents of this small village can buy anything they need until the next trek into larger civilization. I am sure when the snow closes the roads and the ski mobs are winding their way up the mountain this store is a welcome sight. Inside is every type of need one can have...from food to batteries to birth control. And, yes...every type of alcohol known to man. That should scare anyone who has ever driven in areas like this. More on that later. Next time you are somewhere "away from civilization" drive off the beaten path and find the local "box store." Go in, buy something, and take a deep breath. It does not smell like the Target in the next block. By the way, this store is for sale. Anyone interested?