There's No Place Like Home

Hello Gold Star Revolution Squad! I hope that you had a wonderful Valentine's Day and that you took some time to appreciate the people you love!!! ❤

Yesterday, February 15th, marked the 20th anniversary of my move to North Carolina. I can hardly believe that I have now lived here for 2 decades!

In just another year, I will have lived in North Carolina longer than I have lived in any other state in my entire life. When I was younger, never in a million years did I imagine that I would move from the north to the south.

Reaching a big milestone like this one tends to automatically create a time for reflection and appreciation.

I have to admit that I have never truly "loved" my adopted home of North Carolina. Not in the same way that I have loved other places where I have lived in my life.

But what I have learned is that you don't have to "LOVE" a location to deeply appreciate its good qualities.

I still have moments when I think – why the heck did I move here?? But then those moments are followed by all sorts of little details like:

I am totally spoiled by the weather here in North Carolina. I truly believe that our bodies adapt to the climate in whatever location we're in. I absolutely hated the summers for my first several years here, especially because of the humidity, but now I don't really mind them at all.

In fact, I am now more likely to complain about the cold weather in the winter. So when I idolize my time in the north, the fact of the matter is that I'm not sure I could move back there solely based on the weather!

Also, for the first time in my life, I am doing work that I truly enjoy here in North Carolina. It took me quite a bit of time to get there, but in the past three years or so, I have become truly happy with what I do to earn money.

Having struggled with my career all my life, I have an immense appreciation for just how happy I am right now. And since my main walking tour business is obviously location based, I only have North Carolina to thank for giving me this opportunity!

And I especially love the beaches here in North Carolina! Carolina Beach is one of my favorite places in the world! And the other beaches in that area, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach, are pretty awesome as well. I can't imagine my life without the Ocean Grill & Tiki Bar in Carolina Beach. It's a place that I look forward to visiting as often as I possibly can!

So, maybe I don't love LOVE North Carolina, but I certainly do appreciate all of the wonderful things it has given me over the past 20 years. I realize that I need to take the time to appreciate my home more often!

What about you? Do you love where you are living? What do you appreciate about where you are living now? Let us know in the comments!