August 18, 2015
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The Road to 65, Mile 262: Safe Havens
August 17, 2015, Prescott- Yes, today was better than yesterday, and, as an online friend pointed out, it might be a good idea to stay in one place for more than a fortnight, if I want it to feel like home. I got everything accomplished today that had to be kicked down the road, yesterday.
I want to make another A-Z post. This time, it’s about places where I actually do feel at home, and safe.
A- Amarillo, because I know right where to head, to “sit a spell”; Anacortes, which is on the short list of places I’d consider, if I need to leave my present community; Albuquerque, where I’ve had some of the most enjoyable vacations, back in the day.
B- Bellingham, a most pleasant spot in which to wait for a ferry; Bisbee, the second-most relaxing place in Arizona; Boston, because it is truly a Hub of Learning and cultural explosion.
C- Carlsbad(CA), where I can always find a welcome, no matter how late it is at night; Claytor Lake, the Virginia spot where two rangers took me in, at 11 PM, on a Sunday night, when I was beside myself with emotional pain; Chicago, because it is majestic and amazing, and I feel safe, actually, no matter what part of town I’m in.
D- Denver, always a place for a good time and connecting with the salt of the Earth; Durango (CO), and may the blessed Animas be healed;
E- Enid, as fine a place to rest and connect with a friend, as I’ve ever known; El Paso, I can sit around here, too, and jabberjaw for quite a while.
F- Fort Worth, one of the friendliest big cities I’ve visited; Flagstaff, because it’s just my second home.
G- Glendale (AZ), four months a year, one of the most relaxing and walkable downtowns in AZ; Glenwood Springs, a comforting steam bath always awaits.
H- Honolulu, misty and ever magical; Hagerstown, a must-stop respite, from the pell-mell rush of BosWash; Hermosillo, the first place I ever visited in Mexico.
I- Inglewood, the resting place of the first Baha’i in the U.S., where I was greeted by a red-tailed hawk.
J- Jasper, one of the loveliest spots in Canada; Juneau, because of the hostel, and Mendenhall; Jeju, my first real Asian home.
K- Ketchikan, frenetic, by Alaskan standards, but still filled with good-hearted people; Keams Canyon, because I got to know Penny there.
L- Lille, working-class and down-home France; Lynn, because so many family members are still there, and it’s the Beach; Luxembourg, the most welcoming party place, ever.
M- Moscow (ID), because people begged me to hang out there a while longer; Manitou Springs, for the same reason; Memphis, because, St. Jude’s, and Beale.
N- New Orleans, nothing more need be said; Nashville, homey and loving.
O- Oceanside, the Rock Walk rocks; Oklahoma City, the only place where I was invited to a County Employees’ Picnic; Ocean Springs, just a calm and homey place to meet a friend.
P- Prescott, more of a home than I sometimes acknowledge; Phoenix, because so much of me is still there; Philadelphia, because of Germantown, the river, and my extended family; Portland, because it’s ever in bloom.
Q- Quincy (IL), the trees, the river, and the Ali family.
R- Reno, because my soul family is there; Rouen, my roots run deep.
S- San Diego, my California home; Saugus (MA), the core of my family; Strasbourg, my Alsatian brothers and sisters; Sedona, the most relaxing place in Arizona; Sitka, because it is a place truly apart.
T- Tallahassee- a surprise around every corner; ; Tucson, because my friends are always glad for my presence; Tuba City, where I first connected with Native Americans, on a deep level, and where we first had a married home.
U- Utah Beach, always a place of honour and reverence.
V- Versailles, both excessive resplendence and down-to-Earth goodness; Vicksburg, a reminder of how things can go wrong, and be made right again, over time; Victoria, an honest and well-balanced little city.
W- Washington, despite all the bluster and phoniness, underneath it’s an exquisite city; Wenatchee- the consummate survivor town; Wrangell, because it felt like home, before I left the boat.
X- Xenia, an Ohio town with enormous heart.
Y- Yellowstone, no more magical place exists, anywhere.
Z- Zion, a different side of Illinois.
Of course, I could list more such places, like Bruges and Bastogne, but you get the point, if you’ve read this far.
Comments (5)
I find that it is more the people than the place...
You are well traveled, and it seems the old adage of "Home is where you hang your hat." applies, meaning that you can find the positive, and be comfortable, almost anywhere.
It sounds like you have had a few places you favored, and resided in for a time, but I read of a sense of wanderlust in you.
@murisopsis: That was indeed the criteria by which this list was made.@Crystalinne: Part of the reason I have traveled so much is out of a desire to connect with many people. I have had wanderlust, since I was very small. Nowadays, that has resulted in more criticism, but I also am slowing down a bit, with a view towards more quality than quantity, in terms of friendships.
@RighteousBruin: I am sorry you have received criticism for your lifestyle choices. I, personally, think it's pretty cool you have had the oportunity to travel, to meet many people, see varying lifestyles and lands; It's a dream I think many people have, but they never consider the posibility a reality, so they remain in a rut, even when unsatisfied or curious.
Now, I don't mean that having a home, a family, or core friends is bad by any means. I grew up in one place for all of my youth and 20's, and loved knowing we were within an hour of many family members, but then when the AirForce transported me, I came to see that there is adventure is seeing something else, and the family and friends remain, and can be visited or called. Especially in today's world where contact with electronics is easy. Imagine when those in the covered wagon days moved, they said goodbye to those they knew usually forever.
Anyhow, I still know that you will be fine with your choices; You seem to have that kind of accepting spirit about you, and if you do end up ultimately moving, may the journey be a good one! (just don't forget to give us all your new address so we can still keep in touch of course)
@Crystalinne: I would certainly keep everyone abreast of any moves I made. Interestingly, I lived in only two houses, during my childhood and my mother still lives in the second one.
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