Many of us have not had a choice of the environment that we live in, because jobs have taken us where we currently live. Many of us have been in that particular area for many years. Some of us have moved around frequently and have lived in many areas. And, a few of us have been in our home town and it's environs all of our lives. We don't often think about our personal preferences, but, just for the sake of this article's question, "What do you prefer and why?"
I have resided in four different states--Texas, Missouri, California and Oregon--and not in that order. Some areas I have loved, some I have tolerated. Now, mind you, I am not talking about the people of these states. Granted, in each area the culture and customs of the people are different, but I have found that I have loved all the people that I have met and still have friends in every area.
Some areas that I inhabited, to remain unnamed, were actually just an occupation of sorts, because I barely tolerated the setting. One such place was in a flat land with no trees anywhere, except where man had planted them, barely even shrubs native to the area. Mostly grass land and tumbleweeds. The 'native' people loved it! A friend bought a piece of property there and built a house. When we went to see her new house, she stood in the driveway and said, "Isn't it so beautiful here! You can see for miles around!" I could see nothing but dirt and sky. My feeling was shock, I felt it was stark and desolate. It felt uncomfortable and exposed.
As to the territories around each place that I lived, I won't go into each one, but I do have a preference. As you can probably ascertain by the last sentence in the previous paragraph, I need an environment of coziness with a feeling of cover. I prefer a forested area. There is just something about a habitat of old growth living green pines, firs and oaks with a lush undergrowth of ferns growing on fallen trees and underbrush where birds hop in and out looking for forage, that I truly love. It gives me that warm, comfy feeling of being under my favorite quilt on a frosty morn. And like the patchwork quilt, my preferred environment would be so much more to look at than just dirt and sky. My dream home would be in a cleared section of that forest, house facing the south to capture a little morning sun, and I would be in heaven!
How about you?
