Growing up, my best friend Kathy and I lived in Aurora, a large suburb of Denver, Colorado. We lived down the block from each other and played every day. Kath and I were inseparable for most of the year except when she would leave every summer to go to a foreign world called "IOWA". To me that seemed so far away and absurd. Why would anyone want to spend 3 months of the year on a farm in a town of less than 1000 people? (Weirdos)
When I was 15 I moved to South Dakota and Kathy started breaking up her summer vacation by visiting me as well. One year we convinced our parents that I should go to Iowa too and we could spend a couple weeks there together then come back to South Dakota.
IT WAS BORING!
I mean, it was fun. We made a lot of memories and it was interesting seeing all of the things Kathy had been telling me about for the last 6 years of our friendship, but come on! There was NOTHING to do. You swing on a tree swing for a while, swim at the local county pool, walk from farm to farm into town to get a soda at the only bar, get the mail (woohoo). It was insane to me that she thought this could be enjoyable. There was no hustle and bustle, there was no excitement. It was SUPER quiet and although the storms were really cool, it left the town muggy and more gross than before. I was sure I would NEVER be caught dead in a place like IOWA!
Kathy on the other hand was the perfect yin to my yang. She felt at peace there. She loved the adventure of having a whole town stretched at her feet and not worrying about traffic or strangers. She thought the friendly way people waved with one finger (the pointer finger, seriously... get your brain out of the gutter!) and smiled at passersby was charming. Kathy LONGED to be in Iowa. When we would spend the night and talk about the future she always ended up in Iowa and I was in a flat in Downtown Denver living a highrise lifestyle! :)
Guess what?
We're 27, almost 28 now. I live within walking distance of Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota in a TEENY town at the edge of nowhere... 300 people at best. A library that is only open once every other day for 2 hrs. Where our post office is only open 3 hrs every morning, and a PO BOX is required. When I am at home I can't hear cars hardly ever. People greet each other with one finger, and the nearest "city" is a whopping 75k people 20 minutes away.
Kathy lives in Denver.
I never thought I could be happy in this place, and I can't speak for Kathy's happiness as we are distanced at this point. What I can say is, I am so grateful I opened my heart to the possibility that I might be a little bit country. I still love the bustle of cities. I recently visited DC and all i needed was a metro card and a map and I was well on my way to bliss. The people there, and in Denver, think I am INSANE for praising my small town life.
What I can say is this: At any moment I can hop in the car or on a plane and get myself to a city. If I am craving the busy, bountiful, and bold blitz of city life, I am just a road trip away. However, when it comes to where I lay my head, and raise my family, I want my home to reflect me and the life I want. I get completion from the peaceful, reflective, quiet and welcoming bliss of my 1916 home in small town USA. To me it is anything but boring, and the irony is not lost on me.
Enjoy your home of choice today <3
So much joy and love out to you!
'Manda
