Where to Live

I have lived on three different continents and two islands, besides traveling to several others. People often ask how I enjoyed living in one place or another, to which I always reply that there are good and bad points about each.

If I had to elaborate, though, I’d say I loved the entertainment in London, but not the dreary, overcast skies. My whole Bulgarian experience was amazing, but I couldn’t handle the isolation from family. Malawi was home. Enough said. Antigua had a remarkable church family, stunning beaches and we made great friends. I could have adjusted to whatever it lacked in entertainment options and supplies, but not the constant itch and battle with skin infections.

My experience living in the US? I am very conflicted about that. For one thing, it’s not home. I don’t feel any great patriotic fervor. No passion for US politics, problems or ideology. That’s reserved for African issues. I find living in the US predictable, pedantic and pointless. Ironically, those characteristics reduce my stress and almost eliminate my eczema.

As to individual states… I loved living near my family in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but the weather! Yuck. Ditto for Iowa – but add incessant culture shock and home sickness to the negative associations.

Oklahoma I grew to value. It has all the amenities I appreciate, having lived overseas –public libraries, sports for the kids, a variety of entertainment, playgrounds and splash pads, readily accessible shopping, relatively clean, regular and free(!) public toilets, and yes – potable water, especially drinking fountains! Also, I felt needed in our congregation – there was a definite purpose to our being there. But it’s a bit flat for my tastes, and it does have a wee tornado problem.

So what would be my ideal place to live? Strangely enough, Spain jumps to mind. I’m not sure why. It is beautiful and has quite the history and architecture. But the enduring impression from my July visit is that it was blistering hot, rather dusty, and potable water was scarce.

Hmmm. Sounds a bit like Arizona in summer. I guess we’ll see how ideal it is over the next few years.