Our view: Timely reminder:Some stocksnever go down

National Geographic picked a good week to come to Crescent City and remind us that we live in a special place.

It can be a fine line between hope and despair, and the latter has seemingly had the upper hand of late. Retirement funds are withering. Unemployment is rising. Sacramento is bracing us for the double-whammy of a tax increase and service cutbacks.

So it was extra-therapeutic having someone who makes his living documenting the most notable places on Earth look out at the sea stacks dotting the Pebble Beach coastline and note that this place clearly belongs among "the world's most important destinations."

As the associate director of National Geographic's Center for Sustainable Destinations, James Dion oversees the production of "Geotourism MapGuides" to entice visitors to areas of special natural, cultural and historical significance. He brought the news to community leaders Monday that the latest of these guides will focus on California's North Coast, from Del Norte to Marin County.

This is good news for an area looking to promote tourism. Starting in January, residents will be asked to attend forums or go on-line to nominate local features for inclusion. For example: Everyone knows this is the region of the redwoods, but visitors might never stumble upon the old-growth wonders to be found along Howland Hill Road if they aren't tipped off. The guides will consist of two-sided poster-size maps and an interactive Web site. National Geographic has already produced them for areas such as Waterton/Glacier National Park, Mexico's Baja California and the Sonora Desert.

Even better was the reminder that we live in a place of incredible resources that aren't subject to the vagaries of Wall Street. The redwoods and the craggy coastline will never lose their value. Not a bad place to make a stand in a world of economic insecurity.

There's a less aesthetic but no less important comfort to Del Norte County. Our biggest employer is Pelican Bay State Prison. Its 1,500 or so good-paying jobs are more secure than those of almost any private sector employer. Come what may, California is not going to quit locking up the people who populate the cells of Fort Dick.

World-class scenery and a secure base of good jobs are significant tools to have in our belt as we go to work on the chores at hand. That's important, because the challenges are daunting. We have a harbor to revitalize, vacant downtown storefronts to fill and a lot of struggling residents in need of better jobs and services.

From the White House to the City Council, we also have a new crop of leaders stepping up. We should welcome and encourage the fresh approaches.

Hope or despair. You could certainly make a case for either. But take a look around you this Saturday morning. The rain clouds have lifted and the sun is shining, at least sporadically, on communities, the coast and forests washed and lushly saturated by the recent precipitation.

It's a good day to honor veterans by taking in the parade downtown at 10 a.m. and a reception and dinner at the Veterans Memorial Hall starting at 5 p.m. Learn about saving money while helping the environment at "It's a Green Day," an expo going on from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Celebrate the grand opening of Talking Crow Studio at the harbor at 11 a.m. after the parade.

Or go your own way, on a beach or in the redwoods.

National Geographic knows what it's talking about.