Craving Country Calm: CA Girl Craving the Midwest

Why would I like to move to the Midwest and explore those states that have tornadoes, mounds of snow, & super hot summers without a beach? Growing up my family moved a lot because my dad was a doctor for the Navy, so I have seen my fair share of this country. I was born in California, moved to Guam for a bit, lived a few years in Washington, and completed the circle by coming back to California.

One may ask, so, those are all on the West Coast or near the ocean. How can you be so sure about the Midwest? Well, my dad is from Kentucky, it is farther East, but the quiet and calm that settles over the valley at sunset is a peace I have not felt in years! My family went back for a family reunion awhile back and I fell in love all over again. There are houses without fences for pete's sake! How cool is that? And people own huge houses for the price of a tiny apartment in California. And in the Midwest where street lights are few and far between people actually look out at the stars at night. But more than anything else is the fact that those houses can come on huge pieces of lands with rolling fields for miles. That means miles of land to wander, think, and thoroughly enjoy life to its fullest. I can think of no better way to spend a summer afternoon than wandering a corn field or sipping ice tea on my front porch.

Sure the beach is nice, but it is usually crowded, loud, and public. To afford something private in California is expensive, and not many of us have the ability to afford that luxury. In the Midwest I can enjoy the luxury of big houses, lots of land, and silence for a fraction of the price. I have been cooped up in this desert for 15 years now. I am ready to spread my wings and look for something else somewhere else. California is nice, and I am so happy for those who love it here, but for some people, like me, I have different, bigger dreams that no amount of palm trees, beach, or concrete can fulfill.

A Few Pictures of My Family Reunion in Kentucky