Beach Notes by Guest Writer Suzie Cheel
Why I Love Where I Live
Do you love where you live? I know I do and on my return from a week in Vancouver I have found myself feeling so much gratitude for and about where I live.
Vancouver often dubbed as one of the most livable cities in the world along with Melbourne. Yes both cities do have great transport systems, great food and other qualities that are used by Mercer each year to establish these ratings. I found the people in Vancouver very friendly, the food superb, the public transport excellent and the shopping great. I got a glimpse of the cultural life: there seems to be a diverse range of art centers and galleries. One aspect that seems to have not been taken into account enough is the weather (ditto for Melbourne). Where I live it does rain, but the sun does shine.
I mentioned to Glenda I was bringing boots, "not in June" she replied. They were my most worn footwear.The summer temperature even today in Vancouver is lower than here on The Gold Coast in our winter and the sun is shining here.
We all have different values about what is important about where we live. Blue skies, clean air, watching the sunrise and set, something I have done since my return. I feel very blessed each morning to walk barefoot on clean sand, enjoy the sun on my face, swimming in clear blue water, for me it is magic. We moved here 4 years ago from the big bustling city of Sydney and it is something I have never regretted. After my recent trip know feel even more blessed to live in what I do call paradise. This afternoon we are going to a Gallery about 20 minutes drive from here that is set in the hinterland. We have access to such a variety of Nature’s beauty and at the same time, live 10 minutes from International airport and just over an hour’s drive to the city of Brisbane.
I went walking on the beach the afternoon I came home, to get grounded and saw a beautiful setting sun.
and wrote:
The magic and the beauty of the sea
The waves roll in
The rays of the sun touch my heart
I feel so blessed to be sitting here barefooted
My heart full of love and feeling so peaceful.
The mind slightly spaced out
So much new information to integrate
The gift has been given
Now it is time to pass it on. June 11 2008
Do you love where you live? Share your why’s below.
I think if I had a choice I’d rather be living as close to a beach as you do. I also think that I’m pretty damn lucky. The area of Orlando we’re in (Windermere) is beautiful. Lots of lakes and lovely views, although a bit flat compared to where we previously lived in the UK.
I’ll always love where I live otherwise I’d up and leave. I still have a hankering for the West Cast round Carmel and 17 Mile Drive or much further south near San Diego, but I do want the warm weather.
If it were warmer in Vancouver I’d be there. Stunning beauty and FREE health care, what’s not to like?
I’ve never met anybody that didn’t love Australia but it’s just too far to be from family and friends at this point in our lives. An 8 hour hop back to the UK beats 24 hours of purgatory to me!
I’ve heard it said that there are three things that were important. Where you lived was one of them. I’ve had the pleasure of living in many different cities around the world, and my two favorites were San Diego, and Honolulu. The happiest place I ever lived was Orange, California though. It wasn’t the weather, it wasn’t the cultural attractions, and it certainly wasn’t Disneyland right next door. It was simply love. Wherever my darling was was home, and home was magnificent…
Hi Tim!
I think that views of nature fill us up in ways that make it important to be able to see the sky, trees, flowers, and fresh water whenever we can. I love where I live because it can take me to anywhere just by walking and enjoying the view.
Hi Phillip,
It’s sure true. The people around us can make anywhere seem like the best place on Earth. 🙂
@ Tim. I understand what you are saying, you have great taste, Carmel and San Diego! I think if I were to live in USA the west coast of California would be my choice. Sunshine is another aspect that is important to me too. Was doing a QiGong class at the beach and to have the sun’s rays shining onto me was magical.
@ Phillip. Love makes the world go round!
I fortunately live with my love and it was his choice to move to Paradise.
You have good taste too, San Diego and Honolulu
I lived in Chicago for many years of my life, and have been living in the Dallas suburb of Plano for more years than I can recall, and I much prefer Plano than anywhere else.
However, if I could choose where I’d want to live or retire, it would be somewhere near an ocean because the water is very soothing and beautiful. My hubby and I have been discussing lately various places we might consider moving to when we retire, and each city we’ve discussed is near water.
Although I’m not necessarily anxious for the retirement age to arrive (I have several years to wait), knowing that we both agree on the “must-haves” makes the idea much more appealing.
Hi Lin,
Knowing that the place I live nurtures me just by the sense of space and the view is important to my life. I can see how it would make the idea of the future so appealing, even when you like where you are now.
Hi Liz –
Funny how things float around and when you are ready the find you. I currently live in Arizona right in the middle of the valley desert and NO I don’t like where I live 🙂 However, I will be moving back where I used to live – the Midwest. Sometimes you need to go away so you can learn what you really need. I miss the green and the rolling green of Wisconsin call for me. The great lakes of Michigan also tug at my heart. So I will like were I will be living in the next few months!
Hi Liz!
It is SO important to live in a place that you love! I live in NYC now and love it, but that wasn’t always the case. I was living in the south in a small town and I was feeling very lost. I made my decision to follow my dream of moving to NYC a couple of years ago after going to see Bob and Melinda Blanchard talk about their book, Live What You Love. They have a great blog too – as someone who reads and enjoys both of your blogs I think you guys definitely have some common ground, especially attitude-wise! They’re at http://www.livewhatyoulove.com in case you wanna check ’em out sometime!