They recently arrived in town and Nick offered his first impressions which are kind of interesting because I think they highlight the challenges facing Squamish. Here's a bit of an excerpt:
So what do people think, is this an accurate description?To live in Squamish, you’ve either got to be super-rich, or a complete dirtbag,” said a friend. I had started a conversation at the dinner table saying that I didn’t “get” the town, in the sense that it didn’t have a unifying feel – a pulse, if you will. I’ve only been in Squamish for a week, but it usually takes far less time for me to understand what a place is all about. Consequently, I grew impatient, and needed someone with some experience to offer an explanation.
It’s too large to be a small town, but too small to be a big city. With the end of it’s logging roots in 2006, it now lacks any real commerce or industry to support a lively art scene or a permanent recreation class, so many families who live in Squamish are supported by work in Vancouver. The colleges in the area are small, and so is their impact. The winter tourism is far overshadowed by Whistler to the north, where most outdoor professionals will find work, and most wealthy individuals will spend their money. Since there is little to do for eight months out of the year, the population is reduced to those escaping the high cost of living of Whistler or North Vancouver, and a small number who live off the minimal tourism the town is able to attract – Squamish isn’t a fake Bavarian Village like Leavenworth, although it might do better if it were.
The climbers here are dedicated, talented, and experienced. Many work as guides, waiters, bartenders, or instructors of some sort. Others don’t really work at all, and are simply spending a couple months dirtbagging here between destinations. Nearly all of them are non-permanent.
All this means that if you’re an outdoor athlete in Squamish, you should be free of the distractions that life usually provides. Camping is somewhat abundant, and the food, in deference to what many have told me, is not too expensive (there are THREE major grocers in the town: Nesters, Save-On-Foods, and WalMart). Biking around town is easy and safe, with dedicated lanes right on Rt.99 and bike racks at every major store.