Day 236
Before I made this move to Chicago … I had searched the country for THE PERFECT new home town. Over 3 years I traveled to 9 states, drove thousands of miles, scoured the areas for just the RIGHT PLACE.
And I have yet to find it.
I made a list of things I wanted of that new home town … rolling hills, orchards, wineries, farms, a slower pace of life, affordable, quaint/historic walkable downtown – with boutiques and good restaurants, dog friendly, near/on water, centrally located, friendly and educated. Some town with a good library, enough charm to keep me interested, big/old homes, a diversity of neighbors, lots of trees, easily accessible to an airport and reliable hospital, half hour from a major city (via train), upscale but down-home, low crime, good gardening soil, 4-seasons but a milder winter.
It also would be nice if the town had a university, had some tourist influx, was somewhat artsy and held outdoor summer concerts. Fireflies would be a huge bonus. As would a Trader Joe’s.
You know … Mayberry with a Starbucks.
Aka … UTOPIA.
And here I am, list in hand, in the Chicago area … wondering, daily, WHAT AM I DOING HERE?
True … the town is lovely and walkable (but I have to drive my car to get to it) and there were concerts in the park, complete with fireflies, every Friday night throughout summer (they were fabulous) … and there are a few nice restaurants and there are TWO Starbucks AND a Trader Joe’s!
There are a lot of trees, older homes, good gardening soil, and it is somewhat centrally located (but not as central as KY or TN). It has charm, a nice library and diversity of neighbors, has 4 seasons and very close medical and airport facilities.
But, I’m in CHICAGO!
Ok, well, 16 miles NW but no rolling hills, no orchards, no wineries, no farms. Not a cow in sight. And yes, there is water but it would take me an hour in horrendous traffic to get there. It’s expensive (not affordable in the least), taxes are hideous, the government is crooked, it certainly isn’t a slower pace of life, it has high crime, the whole area is way too big, the airplanes are too noisy, no one knows how to drive OR speak English, and don’t even get me started on the slightest chance of milder winters.
In any case … the more I look at that list and the more I look around at where I am I know this is not the place I am destined for … but it’s rather a springboard to where I’m supposed to go next. The place where my soul will call home.
I’m here for a reason … maybe it’s to regroup my business, take stock of myself, share time with my parents or for another reason which has not presented itself to me yet. I don’t know. I just know I’m here. And until I figure it out, I will be patient because I know life will take me where I’m supposed to go.
Utopia … a place where children are respectful and know how to have fun and the neighborhoods ring with their laughter because they are outside playing and not inside watching TV or playing Wii or glued to cell phones.
A place where children can walk to school or home from a party without being shot and killed by some gang member out to prove something.
A place where parents are responsible and they don’t abuse or use or neglect the gifts that are given to them in the forms of their children … where they don’t forget them in hot, locked cars or put them in harm’s way.
A place where teachers are part educator, guidance counselor, friend, mentor and parent … not someone who can’t be trusted alone with a child.
I want a simpler life. I want a safer life. And not just for me – but for those around me. I want those things and all the other things on my list wouldn’t hurt either. I’m not asking for much … just how life used to be back in 1950’s Mayberry … but with a Starbucks and Trader Joe’s.