I was driving in to work today and I started thinking. Note, I drive from Burnsville to Shoreview daily, so I have a lot of thinking time.
Why on Earth do I live in Minnesota? I'm an adult, I could move to anywhere I want.
Well, the most obvious reason I stay is because my family is here. Family means a lot to me, and I don't know that I could move out of easy car-ride range from my parents, siblings or child without feeling like a vital part of me has disappeared.
Minnesota is an incredibly beeautiful state. We have 4 distinguishable seasons. I'll admit winter tends to be the longest of them, but that adds to the beauty. Nothing is more beautiful than watching trees in bloom, watching them thrive in the humid weather of summer, watching them change to brilliant hues of gold and crimson, then watching them lose their leaves and see branches coated with new-fallen snow.
Winter. That is what most people associate Minnesota with. And I'll fully admit that I too get frustrated (and a little scared) while driving after a snowstorm. But I also see the fresh blanket that covers our yards and roofs and find myself breathless. There is a still in the air, a silence you can't acheive anywhere else. As a child, my sisters and I yearned to rush out and destroy every inch of fresh snow by making snow angels, snow forts, snowmen... but as an adult I heesitate to even cut across the yard to get to my car. I feel a need to preserve it, cherish it. And for good reason - with global warming our winters have had noticeably less snow and warmer temperatures. 1995-96 and 1996-97 were very harsh winters in terms of snowfall amounts. But can you honestly say we've had another winter as bad as those since? Thats 10 years ago now. I fear that one of our natural wonders may be coming to an end, and I'd hate to move away and miss that.
Land of 10,000 lakes. Well, land of 11,842 lakes that are 10 acres or more. Land of over 15,000 lakes if you count all the teeeny tiny ones. What does that mean? A lot of water. And my parents just so happen to live on a lake called Lake Leavitt in the blink-and-you'll-miss-it town of Outing, Minnesota. A place I should go more often, but never seem to "have the time" [read: desire] to go up there. But that's maybe because my mom is crazy. It has nothing to do with the lake - which is incredible. It is a natural spring-fed lake, probably 60 degrees when its 100 outside.
Why else do I stay here? The culture. Minnesota is a very culture-rich place to live. I love having a plethora of theaters, art centers, museums, gardens, etc. to choose from when I go out. In fact, I was just recently considering getting tickets for me and Jon to go see Triple Espresso. And we're going to ren fest on sunday methinks. We also have the Mall of America (home to two of my kid's favorite places - Underwater Adventures and The Park at MOA) for the shopping aficionado, the Minnesota Zoo for the animal lover, countless parks... it's a never-ending place of happiness and wonder.
So. I can honestly say I don't plan on leaving here any time soon.
I ask you, readers... why do you live where you live?
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