I live on the same property that I grew up on. I've worked all across the country and there's just something that draws me home. (Other than family). Nowhere else felt right. Sure, I was in those places for work, but I did my best to explore on days off. I'm not really sure what keeps me here though... there's not much for opportunities,services, etc, the people are mostly assholes, the weather stinks, it's becoming more of a tourist destination every year(don't care for them lol), I don't have many relatives here, and no one I'd really call a genuine friend (except my wife of course). Yet, whenever I'm not here, I want to be here....
I've lived in many places. Monterey, California, Massachusetts, South Korea, Norway, Alaska. I prefer the wide open spaces of central Arizona. 2 hours to reach real mountains, including skiing near Flagstaff, The Grand Canyon, the Colorado River, many national monuments. The world's largest Ponderosa Pine forest. My kind of place.
Every time I've ever driven through Flagstaff, it's been snowing. Every damn time. That town is like a snow globe
CHRIS FARLEY left me his van down by the river.. actually, Mount Shasta is a lovely town with friendly folk.. Newspaper headlines focus on HS sports or a bear stealing a pie left on sill after dark or cougar sightings around town or which creeks have best fishing.. I was hired by CA State to patrol CA/OR border area; ocean to NV.. Raised family, they returned, both less than 10 min away.. they bought homes pre-Covid, have great careers, producing grandkids.. ALL of YELLOWSTONE, YOSEMITE and GLACIER NPs would fit in our county Number four in area (CA)).... yet only 40,000 people.. that's a lot of uncrowded hiking trails, forests and rivers/lakes/creeks.. and we have I-5 thru town connecting us to two metro areas (north and south) of 150,000+ ea.. I'll die here.. wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary by purchasing final resting place.. she can be on top if she wants.. she's earned it..