What do you love about where you live?
Free as a bird
I consider myself a citizen of the world. I do not have a passport for anywhere, I have no entitlements to my birth country and none through family ancestry. (I am no criminal by the way nor have I ever been kicked out of anywhere... that is just the way things work in some parts).
Open spaces of Botswana
The world is such a big place and we should all be entitled to wander it. But everyone is so ready to claim this land as theirs and that land as theirs and like school children in a playground they bicker and squabble and form their 'cool' cliques about who they will include and who is on their own. Imagine floating around in space and listening to that incessant din of raised voices, shouting over the rest to be heard.
Sun setting over Brighton, UK
Do you think the rays of the Sun shine only over parts of the world it deems worthy of its light? Do you think the wind blows around the man-made borders of countries because it has a visa for some and a 'Restricted Entry' stamp for others? Do you think the ocean droplets bash up against each other where the waters join, trying to keep the rest out of 'THEIR' territory?
Bondi Beach, Australia
They are all different aren`t they? The Sun looks different in summer than it does in winter, it feels differently in England than it does in Botswana. The chilly air of Scotland bites while the hot, humid air of Cyprus caresses. The oceans around South Africa are wild and the waves crash heavily onto the shore while the calm, aqua waters of the Great Barrier Reef have nothing to hide and reveal their gems living deep below.
Sun sets over Monte Carlo
What do you like about where you live? I realise the majority of people are stable and responsible so there must be something that you wake up to everyday and look at which makes you want to be where you are. Or do you find yourself constantly looking across the fence and wishing you could live in the neighbours house, or flick through the computer enhanced images of the latest gossip mag and wish that were your life splashed across the pages?
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The world belongs to everyone.... when did we forget to share?
And since this is where I was placed, I just accept that ...
I love being an Australian ... I love both the high and low culture aspects ... I like football as much as I love literature ... I'm patriotic to an extent ... in that I love the country of my birth ... but I'm not overly patriotic ... in that I don't believe any human being's true homeland is this earth ... 'Love your country but love it wisely' was what I was taught ...
I have Irish ancestry, so there are days when I will fantasise about ending my earthly life in Ireland ...
Sure, I'd love to see and experience a few other places on this earth (not a lot ... just a few ... [for personal reasons ...
But in general? My soul inhabits my body, and if I'm not happy living in my own skin, it won't matter where I am on the face of the earth ... It's the here and now that's important to me .. Right now I'm writing a response to your post ... I have no desire to be anywhere else doing anything else right at this moment ... If I did, I wouldn't bother writing what I'm writing at the moment ...
Oh, I would like to commit a criminal act and get locked up in the same cell as Paris Hilton for 45 days though ... (but that's just pure fantasy ... I dismiss that as a silly thought ...
I'm not a very patriotic person, and two of my three children have hopes of leaving the U.S. as adults. I guess home is where the heart is, not where the flag waves. Our hearts aren't in America. One fine day, I plan on leaving here as well...
But stripping away the idea of patriotism and simplifying the concept to where I actually live and what I love, it's the seasons, the wildlife, the sunrises and sunsets of Kentucky that give me that "I'm at home" comfort.
Growing up in Vegas, I didn't know seasons. Nothing changed except the temperature of the wind. Hot winds, cold winds, or no winds... and everything in the town was painted the same puke color, some embellished with neon.
Neon is not pretty. Nor is the carpet Vegas casinos install with the hopes of psychologically tricking compulsive addictive personalities with tacky "stay and play" patterns...
Kentucky is an elaborate landscape combining open plains, farms, stables, and un-trimmed trees and wild flowers. All four seasons are very much present and I love feeling myself change with them.
Critters... the bright red and regal cardinals fluttering about with their olive-green mates, oppossum waddling their way down rolling hills, deer chasing each other through the meadows...
Every time I get into Pixie Dust and head down the winding country roads, I caress the dash and say out loud, "I love my Jeep, and I love Kentucky."
As much as I love Kentucky, though, I'm not clinging to it... and if I had the chance to leave the U.S. and relocate (to another place with seasons and emerald hills, trees, flowers, and critters), I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Thanks for the journey into Self, Ash... fantastic post!
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
nope, i like being here. i LOVE every state i've been to so far. there arent any left here i need to go to. i don't desire to go see any places like rome, switzerland, and all the such. Thought some about going to Africa... but thats realy all i can think of. maybe this is mostly because i don't fly. . . it's also because everything i've ever dreamed of is right here in my home country. i LOVE being here. The world is soooo beautiful and i LOVE that i don't have to fly to see other places. the ones i can boat to, i'll eventualy see them all. i like showing my kids what it's like living other places. showing them jamaica,bahamas, mexico, belize, grand caymen, just showed them how beautiful the world is, but how fortuntate we are to live where we live. they have no desires to live anywhere but America. Kaitlyn said when i asked, NO WAY!!! i LOVE living here in the US. i know it's not beacuase she doesn't know what it's like anywhere else, because she does, she's been to many countries.
great write here Ash. i like how you think and see things!!!
Tammy
This is what I most love about where I live...The view, the isolation...
But also the fact that you can be anywhere within an hour...the Mountains, the beach, the desert...anything you want...
I visited here before I decided to move from Iowa..and although sometimes the people get a tad weird, I can alsways go up on my "mountain" and escape the maddening crowd...
Great pictures!
Take care,
Nick
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
Give us back Bondi Beach, PLEASE.
Love the seagulls, I'm trying to grow wings, it's very difficult research, first I must show that I can do it with mice, although I am unaware any of them have expressed any interest whatsoever in being able to fly.
I've grown the wings, in vitro, but I can't get them to attach. So near and yet so far.
Nic's pic knocked my socks off, as well as yours.
I guess the colours are there to be captured, no-one can claim credit for the presence, except God, some may prefer it to be simply described as Nature.
This is a long reply from me, guess I'll go back to bed to recover, before getting on with the real work of the day.
Just where have those pesky mice gone?
katyzzz
From The Home Front
Enviro Warrior
Dream Herald
Esoteric Bookshop
...a sad post for me, and to answer it... at the moment? Not much : even though I have lived all over the globe as well.
I'm awaiting new neighbours in the house from hell next door, as I speak and we may well be 'on the road again' if they are not quiet ... the tension is mounting . . .
Seeing Nicks view reminded me of the property we left behind to come to Queensland, and how desperately I had forgotten that I missed it.
Why did I leave semi-retirement and come here to suburbia?
A really long story, involving surgery options for my daughter's special needs... which won't last forever...
~oOo~
So, looking on the bright side... let me see... what I love about where I live at the moment?
My big hedge, my privacy behind it, my beautifully landscaped fishpond (which I designed and built myself, complete with mini-waterfall), and ... all my growing vegetation-family.
Five years ago - in a herculean effort to blot out the horrible red roofs of suburban sprawl around us, (as well as the endless sunshine) - I planted, what I hoped would become, a Balinese jungle-type plot - giving the appearance of being lost in the jungle - complete with swaying tropical’s, fruit trees and little pathways where the garden beds were filled with little waterfalls, statues and curio.
The foliage is now at gutter level and the roof-line slowly disappears around us ... I bought a nice little swing chair and enjoy sipping merlot on it, looking at them grow and having a chat with the faeries and nature spirits that have come to stay (as well as the fish) and many birds that now visit regularly ... or out on the alfresco-style courtyard - both small havens until we can move back to a real jungle, peace and retirement.
Like Nick, I love that I am central and only 30 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the hills and a monastery, 40 minutes from the cities cultural centre and theatres, and only four streets from un-touched tropical rainforest and rivers.
Not a bad lot, even if it gets a tad too noisy for writing, from time to time... another long story, that… about the neighbour on the other side…*cringe*
Lovely post.
Lilla ...
PS You must miss the open spaces of Africa. They are spectacular!
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I agree with Wendi on this and say "home is where the heart is". My heart is in Australia right now with my husband and children. We have, however, lived in a number of different places including the Northern Territory, Tasmania and Victoria, with another move being planned for a couple of months time to Queensland.
I feel no ties to the places I've lived. Not really. But I'm really hoping that SE QLD will give me the feeling of "coming home" that I desire.
You'd understand that, I'm sure, because I can see just how much you love the area from your previous posts.
I sometimes miss the country of my birth, England, and would love to visit the country of my marriage again, Scotland. Other than that, I guess I'm just looking for inner peace and tranquility ...
... just like everyone else.
A.
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I enjoyed your comment... so much of it... I agree with what you say about being comfortable within your own skin. I wonder about how your environment affects that too, going hand in hand - do you feel comfortable in your environment because you feel comfortable within yourself or do you feel comfortable within yourself because you feel comfortable in your environment?
ash
PS sharing a cell with Paris Hilton... hahahahaha good luck with that one, can`t imagine the conversation would be too stimulating, although I`m sure that`s not quite what you had in mind
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
amazing that isn`t it? that travelling overseas is always cheaper than travelling within your own country. I found the same when I lived in England... so cheap to go to Europe yet expensive to travel around England. Bizarre!
Home is where the heart is hey?!?! Australia is definitely beautiful.
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ahh it sounds like you live in heaven! Maybe one day you will all travel around the world together
When I was up the mountain last weekend I was eyeing out land that I could put down as a future goal of achieving... it is just SOOOOO incredibly peaceful out there I have never really been drawn to a place like I was then. As you have described the tranquility of your home I was reminded of this place too.
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
oh how I love your energy! like the bubbles in sparkling wine you tickle the senses with your enthusiasm every time you visit grin I love it!
ohhhh yes one day my little bag is going to be packed FULL of clothes that will enjoy the splendors of these places... it`s great how you phase that... just take a little excursion hahahaha! any time you need someone to carry your luggage please drop me a line
yech! I know all about these. When I was about 12 I went on a survival camp in the bush and they had these long drops (I`m not sure if that is what you call them anywhere else in the world) with dustbin lids on top. Whenever you lifted the lids the entire world population of flies came out of there... and they expected us to use that for a week! no chance gagging
good luck on your future travels, looking forward to hearing about them.
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Thanks for sharing your photo... it looks stunning. I love mountains, love them! There is just something so peaceful about them. Like yourself I live very centrally to everything... beach, city, mountains.. it is all here.
I had never heard of El Cajon before... had a wee look on the map and spotted ya way over there on the other side of the world. I enjoyed the history of the place... The Big Box Valley and The Corners... interesting names for an interesting place!
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
what? someone stole Bondi? woah that must be the steal of history... I wish they could do that with some entire towns, that would be marvellous
Good luck with the growing of the wings.... have you seen the efforts of growing new eyes with the use of teeth? amazing, you may not have to wait as long as you think for those babies!
I hope you enjoyed your recovery period... undisturbed by those pesky mice of course.... having the wings will be a little uncomfortable...
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ahhhhh your home sounds so much like mine in Zimbabwe... here is a photo of our backyard... I blotted out the people as they spoilt the scenery *grin*
we lived on a great big plot of land with veggie gardens, huge trees, flower beds, a great big coy pond with waterfall (built by us too), fruit trees.... and hardly ever realised that we had neighbours. I looked at it on Google Earth recently and sadly they seem to have subdivided the land and built some monstrosity on it that appears to be a complex of town houses.... tears
I really do hope the new neighbours are better after all that hard work you have gone to in order to create the the place you want, especially now that it is nearly complete
DOn`t even get me started on the neighbours.... everyday the man across the road yells at his kids, the woman on the other side threatened to stab her husband with the scissors not so long ago (at the top of her voice btw) and the woman next door has the worlds fastest growing garden that needs mechanical trimming every week... at ridiculous hours over the weekend... I scouted for land last weekend up in the mountains... oh yes! heavenly!
Yes I miss the open spaces and the sounds of Africa, my friends husband had a farm that we would spend weekends at... wonderful... watching the impala and zebra come down at sunset to drink at the watering holes.... lovely!
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
this part of the country is really beautiful, the scenery is great and you have whatever you need right on your doorstep so I am sure that you will enjoy your move here. I truly hope that it brings the peace that you look for... I think you have summed it up really... that is where home is isn`t it?
I loved England and Scotland immensely and I would go back there in a heart beat given the chance.
all the best with your move - I am sure with the arrival of the new bub you will be completely content
ash
Histeries, Mysteries and what not
Lifes little slices
Mystical Creativity
Tammy
Anthroblogogy
i really don't feel any attachment to australia apart from all of my friends and family that live there. i feel i have no sense of culture there and am constantly questioning what are my roots or my heritage? i have scotish, irish and welsh blood in me so i suppose that is where my real heritage is. although having traveled a little now, i realise how beautiful and lucky my home country is. i think i am destined to wander...
at the moment i am living in south korea and absolutely love it here! the people are like a breath of fresh air each morning and always surprise me with the way they approach things. the food is some of the tastiest on the planet (if you like chilli) and food is at the center of their culture - the day revolves around when we eat and no one should ever go hungry. along with their food , there's is nothing better than washing it down with some really bad beer or rice wine that could also strip engines!
apart from the smog, the countryside is beautiful, and being spring it is even more beautiful now. also being a small country it only takes 2 hours on the bullet train to get anywhere. from thick, thick hustle and bustle in a shoppers paradise , to the serene monk temples at the top of the mountains.
i could go on for another 200 lines, but i will end it here by saying i'm a big wrap for south korea. and also by saying a place is really what you make it.
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
I am deeply rooted to where I live. I am a 4th generation Texan. My great grandad came here from Tennessee on the back of a horse during the Texas land rush. I come from humble yet proud farmer and ranch families. I have lived in other states and other countries but Texas called me back and I have answered. I have to agree with David.... one has to be "home" in their own skin, but to me home is also with friends and family...wherever that might be.
Wonderful post
Mis
JZ
I love my little piece of Australia. I love having lots of land and lots of space for my daughter to run around in. I love sitting in my warm sunroom and staring out through the big glass windows. I love living by the beach. I love being around friendly, familiar faces. I love being able to walk to the shops and park. I love having koalas drop by for a visit. I love the birds and trees. I love being close to my family and close friends.
It was nice to reflect on all that. Thanks.
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
According to Muriel Rukeyser, "The journey is my home."
I also identify as a 'citizen of the world' and while I can be a little partial to the states I long to be able to make my home in the spaces in between permanent stays in fixed locations. My dream is to be constantly on the move, however.
C you soon,
Epiphanie
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Sounds like you always have such great holidays. The passing of Steve Irwin was really sad wasn`t it? We live about 20 minutes away from his zoo and where his family live so it really impacted the coast... there was just a collective sadness for those few weeks that it took for everything to settle down.
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I hear what you are saying about lack of culture. Although we were surrounded by different cultures at home we never really had a culture of our own and it seems to be the same here in Aus. You seem to be enjoying the change where you are now!
it is so true what you say about a place being what you make of it! If you have decided that you aren`t going to like it there is no way you are going to until you change your mindset.
Korea sounds like a place to visit for sure!
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Wow your roots are firmly planted aren`t they? It sounds so romantic... ranches... Texas... family history is interesting isn`t it?! So many people take no interest.
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Sounds like you live in paradise... very tranquil surroudings make very tranquil people... thanks for sharing.
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
welcome back. I hear ya... change is always a good thing isn`t it? Too much of the same thing sees stagnating... not for everyone but for some. I see we both belong to the latter group.
ash
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
Relativity Watch
Padsoc
I live for change!
E
Kalikapsychosis
I love this place, less work to do, easier to look after, but its so small!
And you know, I cant wait to go south.....Victoria calls to me with an incessant voice.
Article Dime
Tips in 365 Days
Flick Picks
Quotable Quotes
Laugh 'Til You Drop
Band on the Run
Fashion 101
Robust Beauty
I love your post. I have been wondering if I could go elsewhere besides PH, though I have traveled once in Sg.
I am hoping that I could see the world someday. *sigh*
Bernadette
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
my word I can`t believe that I haven`t replied your comments! hhhhmmmm how rude!
Hiya Epiphanie
I should have Change as my middle name.... I absolutely cannot stand monotony... it`s going to be a problem when I have children... they are going to have adventures from the day they are born because they will have a slightly psychotic mother lol
Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Do you mean small as in the town you live in or Aus is small? Wow! Aus has so much diversity, so many different landscapes.... but there is a big wide world out there I am really surprised that not a huge amount of Aussies travel.
Asutralia is very different to anywhere else I have been. There is a lot of opportunity here for anyone who wants to make the most of it.
I am glad you are happy here. We are all very fortunate to live in a land of plenty.
Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Anyone that i come across who wants to travel I highly, highly encourage to do it, It just opens your mind so much more.... you will have experiences that you will be able to share for the rest fo your life.
Material things can be taken away from you in an instant, memories last for a lifetime and have so much more importance. If you get the chance go wherever you can. See the world. You will not regret it.
I wish you luck in your adventures.
Ash
Kalikapsychosis
Bird Story
San Francisco Music News
Yoga Tap
I guess what i like best about where i currently am situated would have to be that i can walk to anywhere I need to reach. Not being a driver, that helps! Shops, beach, parks, museums, gardens... all reachable by foot.