I have come to realize in the last few years that I LOVE my state. I think it started out going to Tally and spending time there. One of my best (probably THE best) friends moved his family there and we started spending more time in the area. They live out in the country, off of Tram. It may have started before that, with trips we took to Sarasota, Sanibel, Captiva, etc. a few years ago.
So, just driving out to see them and seeing the little towns out that way was interesting, and I noticed that I was reacting emotionally to the sights. There was nothing super spectacular, just old houses, farmland, trees, and swamps.
And then we started kayaking. We went to the Santa Fe, Wacissa, Silver, Rainbow, etc. etc. Freaking Crystal River! I wanted to MOVE there when I saw it. I absolutely love going to springs. We don't have super great hiking or waterfalls like in the mountains, but we have some good trails and I'd much rather bike here than in the hills, that's for sure. Then you have the neat little towns like Mount Dora.
I want to win the lottery so I can buy as many acres as possible and donate them to the parks system.
I feel like I wasted way too much time in the early years going to theme parks, but you gotta do that when you have kids. Practically a law. It's really awesome when they get to the point where they appreciate going somewhere like The Keys, Sanibel or North Captiva and being almost off the grid for a week.
Anyway, that's it, just felt like saying it. If you are around me in real life I say this stuff all the time. If you reply, please don't get political.
Was enjoying the thread until about the middle of page 2, when the request in yout closing sentence went out the window