The Atmospheric Ruminations blogger returned to Coeur d'Alene this month for his Coeur d'Alene High reunion. He was impressed with many things he saw, puzzled by others. In a blog post about his adventure, written from the Bates Motel (where he wasn't stabbed in the shower), he summarized that there are two Coeur d'Alenes, including an underclass that doesn't enjoy our piece of paradise as much as many: "The people in the neighborhoods which surround the East End of Sherman are all working-class people, struggling every day to make ends meet; some with dingy homes that have fallen into disrepair, trying to grind out the American Dream, at service jobs, gas stations, grocery stores, manufacturing plants, driving local taxi-cabs, or reporting to work at 6am to slap them Sausage-Egg McMuffins together, trying to stay on the good side of ruthless bosses. Chances are those blue-collar workers won't be shopping at expensive downtown stores; they'll be buying used clothing at Goodwill or St. Vinnies, and trying to make their money go as far as possible by clipping coupons and hoping they have enough gas in the tank to get to Wal-Mart once in a while." Full post & more photos here.

Question: Do you agree that there are two Coeur d'Alenes, one with money that enjoys the town to the max, and one without money that struggles to get by?