I've had the same experiences at the grocery store (even Costco!), Bushelandapeck!  The best thing about Bako is that neighborly, "feels like home" kinda thing going on here.

 Glad to hear it!! I'm a transplant and get my little heart broken when so many people I meet here immediately tell me their plans to leave.  I like it fair enough!  Even if we won the lottery, we're not leaving!  (But don't hold me to that :) )

 Yup, it's in our blood...I could do without the hot weather and the bad air though...but I do love knowing where everything is and running into people...I remember when I lived in San Jose and didn't know more than 10 people--half of whom I worked with. It was lonely. I'd think I'd hear someone say my name, but I knew it couldn't be. Here all you have to do is go to Target, or walk around the Street Fair and friends abound. :) And no matter how big we get, there's still that small town feel. Of course I've known you most of my life.  I remember going in the back of your Dad's truck with your dog up to Cheapskate hill...and singing "I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation..." :)

 When we moved here almost 5 years ago so my wife could pay back a scholarship through a service commitment of 4 years (that's her up in the comment queue, mifp! hi love!), we thought that we'd be outta here as soon as her contract was up.  5 years, one beautiful house, many good friends (including you, bushelandapeck!), and one baby later, we're still here.  Our group of friends of mostly exiles from elsewhere (we call ourselves, tounge firmly in cheek, the BakPak) have our own joking version of the city tourism motto: Bakersfield--It's Not That Bad.  And you know what?  It's not.

We have been here less than a year, but we love it, too!! I remember getting the call from people asking us to come here. We lived in Oklahoma, but i had lived in CA some as a child, and I knew the stigma of Bakersfield from outsiders. I was less than excited about the opportunity to move here, but we came to see the city and meet some people and make a decision. I am so thankful we gave it a good chance. I love all the things that bushelandapeck said. I remember our first week in town, we were in Lowe's with our four kids, and there was a dad in their pushing a cart with two of his kids, but he had four. He stopped us immediately because we also had four kids. He was so, so friendly. And I remember the first time that I ran into someone I knew at the store (and I didn't know very many people). I knew then and there that this could be home. People are friendly enough that there is opportunity to form relationships. I also would appreciate better air quality, and it is hot, but let me tell you, I would take the dry heat of Bakersfield over the moist heat of Oklahoma any day. We didn't know that moving under a shade tree made things cooler until we moved here. This is not the case when it is 80% humidity outside! It's hot no matter where you are! So glad to be here!!

 I heart Bako, too!  :)