Dear Sagebrush Sally,
I’ve lived in Tecopa for a while now, long enough that I’m not considered a newcomer anymore. I love this town and the weird people in it, but I’ve noticed that not all the bad behavior comes from newcomers and outsiders. Some longtime locals seem to think that just because they’ve been here for a long time, they don’t have to respect others or the land, contribute to the community, or follow the same rules they expect newcomers to follow. It’s frustrating to see double standards and a “that’s just how they are” attitude when certain folks neglect their responsibilities—whether it’s caring for the land, helping out in town, or simply treating others with respect. How do we hold everyone—new and old—to the same standard without causing a rift in our small town?
— Fair is Fair
Dear Fair is Fair,
Ah, now there’s a thorny desert truth—bad behavior isn’t exclusive to newcomers. Time in Tecopa may earn a person stories, sun-leathered skin, and a deep knowledge of the land, but it doesn’t grant a free pass to disregard others or the community’s long term well-being. No one, no matter how many summers they’ve sweated through, is above treating their neighbors with respect.
The challenge, of course, is how to call out long-standing bad behavior without setting the whole town ablaze. In a place as small and interconnected as Tecopa, outright confrontations can turn into feuds that last longer than the water in a dried-up spring. Instead, start with conversation. If someone is acting entitled, being disrespectful, or skirting the very rules they expect others to follow, a direct but calm chat can sometimes snap them out of it. A lot of old-timers pride themselves on their straight-shooting ways—sometimes, they need to be on the receiving end of that honesty, too.
Tecopa thrives when people look out for each other, and that includes holding everyone to the same standards. If certain folks think they don’t have to contribute or can get away with behavior that would not be tolerated from a newcomer, remind them—gently at first, but firmly if needed—that respect for the place and the people in it is what keeps Tecopa strong. That might mean bringing concerns to a community meeting, encouraging collective problem-solving instead of letting frustrations simmer, or simply refusing to excuse bad behavior just because “that’s how they’ve always been.”
If everyone can try their best to negotiate calmly and get along, Tecopa can have nice things—like a town that respects itself and, who knows, maybe even that long-dreamed-of community pool someday.
At the end of the day, fairness isn’t about who got here first; it’s about who shows up for their neighbors, respects the land, and helps keep this town alive. The desert doesn’t play favorites, and neither should we.
— Sagebrush Sally
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