At the same time I'm really worried that I have built up Washington too much; that in my desire to get out of Maryland and away from the east coast, I am projecting too much onto our next area of residence. A place where it rains nearly all the time, and air conditioners are not standard (ugh; only AC can cut out the stink of damp. Crap.).
I feel bad for poor Maryland. There could be a philosophical question based on my three years here: did living in Maryland exacerbate my depression, or was I more depressed because of living in Maryland? Either way, this poor state may always be viewed negatively by me because I spent so much of the last three years being so blasted sad.
I also think my years here were deeply biased by my Nevada upbringing. I like space. I like the sun. I like dryness. I like driving with aloha (within reason, of course). I like to be able to choose whether to be stuck in traffic. I like pleasant people who practice the Golden Rule. I like front yards that aren't a parking lot. I like being able to see for miles forward. I like fences.
Also, I like to whine. Apparently.
There have been some positives to living here.
- Rita's
- The wonderful nice people I've met here. I've especially really loved the women from church. There are so many strong, educated women who made the conscious decision to live as they currently do. I have been forever inspired and enriched by several of the women I've met here.
- BWI. Yup, the airport. BWI is a dream airport. I adore it. Especially helpful is the fact I can get there in 15 minutes. / I grew up using McCarran airport in Las Vegas, which I've now realized is a total piece of crap airport designed by blind monkeys with a preference for tour buses and taxis. McCarran is my least favorite frequented airport (and yet it always brings me "home;" such a conundrum). / I flew to Reno a lot for work, and that is a good airport. It's tiny and cute and efficient. / Salt Lake was less good when I was going to school in Provo (Go Cougs!), but it's pretty nice now. Plus it takes us to my in-laws, which is also huge in its favor. / The Honolulu airport was nice. Not just because it takes you to Hawaii. It's my second favorite frequented airport. They, like BWI, know how to get you in and out quickly without giving preference to the tourism-dependent vehicles (ahem, McCarran? See how they've balanced that?). / In conclusion, BWI is awesome. It's airport bliss. The end.
How did this turn into a post about airports?
Anyway, I am excited to move back out west.
Maybe that's the east's biggest problem: it's not the west.
It reminds me of a line from Fellowship of the Ring. "I want to see mountains again. Mountains, Gandalf!"
I think that line fairly often. . . except I say, "moun'ns."
