I met the woman who would become my only legal spouse while living in Phoenix, Arizona, which was the metro area and state where she was born and raised.
yep...this is so true! I had lived out here for many, many years before finally taking a day trip to see Mt. St. Helens. When I got there I noticed license plates from all over the country and people speaking languages from all over the world. It was a bit of a wake up call for me. There are people who live here on Whidbey who have never seen a whale! Tragic! Now I'm more like you describe yourself...always exploring and hoping not to miss a thing!
The whole license plate and language thing might just be the best reminder, now that you mention it. We complain about how we can't go anywhere or do anything on the coast during the summer because of all the tourists. Without taking a moment to reflect on the fact that somebody from Germany picked where I live to take the vacation of a lifetime. There's probably a reason :-)
I grew up in SLC, UT, and had never explored the southern part of the state. It wasn't until a few years ago, nearly two decades after I left, that I spent time in Bryce, Moab, and Zion. I chalk it up to my parents' view that the closest they wanted to become to being outdoorsy is (and I quote): "A tree in the hotel parking lot."
yep...this is so true! I had lived out here for many, many years before finally taking a day trip to see Mt. St. Helens. When I got there I noticed license plates from all over the country and people speaking languages from all over the world. It was a bit of a wake up call for me. There are people who live here on Whidbey who have never seen a whale! Tragic! Now I'm more like you describe yourself...always exploring and hoping not to miss a thing!
The whole license plate and language thing might just be the best reminder, now that you mention it. We complain about how we can't go anywhere or do anything on the coast during the summer because of all the tourists. Without taking a moment to reflect on the fact that somebody from Germany picked where I live to take the vacation of a lifetime. There's probably a reason :-)
Totally uplifting
I grew up in SLC, UT, and had never explored the southern part of the state. It wasn't until a few years ago, nearly two decades after I left, that I spent time in Bryce, Moab, and Zion. I chalk it up to my parents' view that the closest they wanted to become to being outdoorsy is (and I quote): "A tree in the hotel parking lot."
I'm finding that to be a somewhat common experience. And not too dissimilar from my own.
I have known coastal residents who have not been to the beach.
We all seem to miss the obvious nearby places of wonderment, as if we aren’t deserving of the experience.