“Home is where the heart is.” Do you agree with that? What do you consider to be “home”? Is it where you grew up? I was having shower thoughts about this subject and figured I’d put it out there. It’s not like it really matters WHERE you call home, but more of a curiosity thing for me.
I grew up in Northeast Nebraska, and my mom and dad still live there. My dad is technically my “stepdad”, but he’s been dad to me for 22 years. (My actual dad passed in 2005.) When I go to visit my parents, I always say, “I’m going home”. I suppose in some form I still consider Nebraska my home, because my parents are there. Although, they don’t live in any of the houses I grew up in, or even in the same town. I think I also associate Nebraska with being “home” because that is where my childhood memories linger.
I lived in Seattle for 16 years, which is a big chunk out of my 43 years. What’s weird is that I never considered Seattle “home”. The only time it somewhat felt like home was when I got married there. After I got divorced, it became less meaningful to me. This conclusion leads me to believe once again “home” is a place I associate with family.
Now to Iowa. I’ve lived here for 2 years and 3 months. I have no family here, but Iowa feels more like home to me than Seattle ever did. I am only a 6 hour drive to my parents, and I feel that my co-workers are a pretty close 2nd to being my family. I think that is why I feel a sense of peace here… I’m not totally alone.
I think I have an answer to my own question, “Where do you consider home to be?”. My answer is the Midwest. We have, in my opinion, better values here than other places I’ve lived. We treat people with kindess, etc.
Where do you consider home to be?
