ten things i like about this town

In an effort to be positive about my surroundings I will dedicate today to good things about this town in which we live.

1. Our friends. We have made some good friends here. People I feel comfortable around and people who I know we can count on if we ever need anything. That is important.

2. The fact that we are semi-close to DC. We decided on a whim to go to DC Sunday and it was really cool to be able to do that. Not everyone can decide that they want to go to the Air and Space Museum and make it happen.

3. The Farm. I love that I can work on the farm, learn so much, and be in such a healthy environment.

4. Seasons. Okay, I'm kind of ready for winter to end and I know that I will complain about the heat of summer but there is something wonderful about spring and fall. I've never lived in a place where I appreciated spring nearly as much as I do here.

5. Our house. Yes, we rent -- and I remind myself often of what a good idea that has turned out to be. I love that we are close enough to the college that John can walk and it is nearly never a problem to remain a one car family. I love that I can walk to the houses of some of my friends as well. I think it's great that on nice days we can even ride our bikes, as a family, out to the farm.

6. Thomas's teacher. She isn't really part of this town, per se, and I have mixed emotions regarding the school situation in this town but I love his teacher this year. She is so excited about what she is doing and she is very good at it. He loves her because she teaches him so much and I think a little bit because she is so pretty. :-)

7. I like the fact that I often see someone I know when I'm out. I know that many people don't like that aspect of small town living but I like connecting with others when I'm out. Some of that might have to do with the fact that I grew up in Miami and hardly ever just bumped into people I knew when I was out. Here it is amazing if I make it out of the grocery store without seeing a familiar face.

8. I like that we are four hours from NY city and three hours from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Okay, we haven't been to these places (well, the kids and I have been to Pittsburgh a couple of times) since we moved here but it's nice to know that we could. I think we will make an effort to go to Philadelphia and New York City in the next year.

9. It's fun to live so close to places that shaped our national history. We can be in Gettysburg or Antietam in hardly any time. I had no clue that there was another Washington Monument (the original one) and we have even been to the top of it. We are also very close to the Appalachian Trail and have been in that a couple of times since we moved here.

10. I like that we feel safe here. I've never really felt unsafe in other places we've lived but I know that it isn't everywhere in this country that you can walk your dog at midnight and have no fear that you will be fine (even with the most non-threatening dog known to man).