An Arizona friend of mine is convinced that I live in paradise.
The green wooded trails and grassy hillsides of my favorite metro parks, although on the (very) dry side this summer, look unbelievably lush and refreshing when juxtaposed against the arid heat of the Scottsdale zone. And, according to him, if the three digit temperatures don’t get you, the tourists will… I’ll concede that point; battling tourists on your own roadways could never be fun. They’re in leisure-mode while you’re operating in the “grab my coffee and get to work” frame-of-mind. And, then there are the new residents who apparently loved their winter get-aways, but arrive mentally unprepared for the sweltering heat of summer. His standard unsympathetic response is “You live in the desert now; what did you expect…?” Encouraging, huh?
The heart of Ohio looks pretty good to him. 
And it is… As much as I dream of ocean and mountain locales, this is my home. It is the template by which I measure differences in geology, geography, and culture as I travel.
From this latitude (of roughly 39.9 degrees), however, we mentally measure the rainfalls endured to grow our shady foliage. And the humidity that holds self-generated heat flat to our skin… Runners generally prefer racing through dry heat than through relentless humidity. And in an Ohio summer, one frequently feels as if you’re plodding through the steamy vestiges of someone else’s too long, too hot shower.
It’s all about the contrasts, isn’t it? The broader the base of your experience, the more you’re able to appreciate the uniqueness of where you presently stand. A tree is never just a tree; it’s a peeling sycamore, or a fragrant pine, or a sprawling oak… Much can be gleaned about distant places from the photographs and accounts of others, but many subtle yet significant contrasts won’t be evident until your own feet stand in the picture, carrying your own custom blend of experiences and observations.
Sometimes you just have to “go” to better understand where you’ve been all along…
Before I was able to travel to Rome, I looked at pictures of the great monuments there without feeling any awe or wonder. But when I finally laid my eyes on the Colosseum right in the middle of Rome, I felt overwhelmed by its history. I had to have my “own feet stand in the picture” before its greatness sunk into me. Thank you for this enlightening post.
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Very thought provoking post. The last sentence… truer words are rarely spoken.
Have A Great Day!!!
That is an amazing photo in Arizona….the colours and the majestic mountains are really something.
I know what you mean about battling tourists. Where my sister (your 2nd favorite cousin) lives in Cape Cod, the quiet, peaceful winters turn into summers so clogged with traffic people will drive ten miles out of their way to avoid taking a left turn. She has a bumper sticker that says “I’m not on your vacation.”
(Although it’s not on her bumper. That might look inhospitable.)
I love Ohio! And hot humid days in Mass. actually bring back wonderful memories of summer days playing with my cousins there.
As you so vividly described your template, your home, I could feel the deep love that you have for Ohio. I share the same memories of the hot humid days of summer in Iowa where I grew up and it made me think about the fact that you can drive through Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio across interstate 71 and 74 into Iowa and could easily be convinced you are in any one of these states if you didn’t see the highway marker on the side of the road. Though the cornfields look just the same state by state when you arrive in your home state, the familiarity of the farms along the interstate that you recognize give you a warm comfort and peace as you arrive “home.” Though the fields in all of these states look the same, there’s something special about the appearance of the ones back home that have nothing to do with the way they look but by their location…it has to do with the feeling of belonging…of a kind of ownership that you feel and then I feel that same feeling of love and appreciation for the special beauty that is Iowa because it is home.