Re: "The Bean" & merchant miseries

Scott, we HAVE to have been in the Bean together because it was also my favorite and frankly only place for breakfast and in fact many lunches.
John, I expect you're probably right. I'm usually by myself when I head out to Chama, but I'd guess that about half the time, I'd end up sitting with other folks after striking up conversations. The place just had the kind of friendly, informal atmosphere that made that sort of thing seem natural.
You can see what I look like and see if you recognize me here - just watch out for the glare off the top of the head if you're viewing in bright sunlight.
I, too, most certainly don't want to see Chama become a Durango. I only wish there was somehow a better and more cooperative relationship in place between the town and the railroad, which really includes the owners, operators and the Friends.
The situation in Chama in many ways mirrors that of small towns on the edge of large National Parks. Sometimes, the seeming indifference of a large, goverment owned entity with such strong local impact can be infuriating to locals. In the best of circumstances, it's a difficult relationship to manage well, and as we all know, our favorite little RR hasn't been going through the best of times of late.
With the right people in place (and a little more stability), I do believe things can get better. On the other hand, as alluded to in my previous post, I think a certain level of ambivalence will always be in place, and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. It keeps the place real.
Scott