When I first moved to this city where I now live, it was to move in to my girlfriend's studio apartment in a drab part of town.  I soon worked a miserable, rotten temp job which took 2 dreary bus rides to get to because we had no car.

The girlfriend was a newly recovering alcoholic (in other words, not very fun) and I had no local friends.  My life was mired in drudgery and I could see no way out.

Three long, sad months later, I learned of a quicker route home from work so I hopped on a bus headed in the opposite direction of where I usually went.  Only one mile later, the bus rounded a curve and there to my complete shock was a beautiful lake.

It was filled with colorful sail boats.  There were trees and bike paths and a sandy beach with happy sunbathers enjoying the afternoon.  Just past the lake were outdoor cafes and bookstores and surf shops.  There were bike rentals and ice cream and as my mouth still hung open taking it all in, it was time to get off, grab another bus and ten minutes later I was home.

I raced in to tell my girlfriend my incredible discovery, but she of course was well aware of Fox Lake because after all she's lived in or near this city her whole life.

"But, but it's beautiful and there's so much to do and..."

She grimaced.  "It's crowded.  We don't have a boat."

She could not stomp my buzz.  

A whole new world had opened up to me, a world of bright colors, happy, active people and natural beauty.  I felt hopeful, renewed & alive.

I was firm.  We were moving there.  (and yes, we were already incredibly close, but not close enough.)  And so we did.  

My whole outlook improved.  For the next 15 years, I have always lived a short walk away from a lake (turns out this city is chock full of them, it's incredible.)  I have something gorgeous to look at every day. 

Half the year, I take my dog swimming at "our" spot on the lake every saturday morning.  I've done this hundreds of times now, and yet every time I still look around me, breathe in deep and feel so damn grateful to live in a place that makes my heart sing.

Last year, I found this incredible (rental) home in a secluded spot right on a wooded creek with cute walking bridges and bike paths.  It's in the city, 10 minutes from downtown, and yet you would swear we lived in the woods.

Every single morning, I come downstairs, open up the blinds and smile at what I see.

I grew up on the south side of Chicago and my girlhood bedroom overlooked a giant, neon Arby's hat. (remember those?)  Downtown Chicago may be breathtaking with the stunning architecture, lakeshore, gardens, river, etc. but if anyone reading this can name one beautiful thing within a 25 mile radius of the spot where I grew up, I'd be shocked to hear of it.  

We made trips downtown maybe 3 or 4 times a year, but otherwise my childhood scenery was fast food, strip malls, factories, identical houses and the occasional patch of grass with a sign in front saying "PARK & REC"

I have friends who are currently living in the south suburbs of Chicago.  Any reader who has had to drive through the midwest knows those 'burbs go on FOREVER and for all you know you're stuck in some kind of time loop looking at the exact same stretch of monotony over and over again.  Taco Bell, Target, Home Depot.  Repeat.

Last summer we were visiting one of those friends and went to an REI type of store.  They were having some kind of sale and outside they were selling hot dogs and there were a few games for the kids.  It was a beautiful day and she and I were sitting  on a bench looking out at the ginormous parking lot filled with SUVs.  Beyond that were more strip malls and fast food chains.  "Isn't this nice, " she said smiling.

I looked out and all I could think of were the sunny weekends where I live now, when we sit and look out at huge trees and sparkling waters.

It's great that all the pavement doesn't bother her.  And it's wonderful that there are people who receive all the beauty they need just looking into the faces of their loved ones. 

But why?  Why choose to live in such a place?  Or anywhere drab or unremarkable.  Why live where there is nothing to ever make you stop, smile and thank the creator for giving us so much gorgeous detail?  Or for the city lovers, a place where there is not one original shop or magnificently designed building?

Yes, I know there are plenty of people who don't have the money or freedom to decide where to live.  Some aren't even aware of the beauty that is so close to them.  I work with kids who live in my curent city and who have no idea it is filled with lakes, rivers, creeks and waterfalls.  They have never been to any of the lakes which are all just a short bus ride away for them. 

With my family it was more a matter of habit.  They got off the boat from Poland, went straight to chicago's south side and didn't move for three generations.

Now my mom lives in a beautiful town in southern Maine.  Walking distance to the ocean.  She has no money.  I'm serious, sometimes she goes without groceries or heat in the wintertime.  But she found a dirt cheap little house and loves to take long walks on the shore.

She and I are both new to having beauty available in our daily lives.  New enough to appreciate it every single day.  

My daughter's current bedroom overlooks the creek and she gets excited every time she sees ducks floating by while she sits in her bed.  Every day we point out beautiful things to each other.  For perspective, I've told her all about the Arby's hat.  

Even though she lived in Florida the first (nearly) 8 years of her life, she has never seen the ocean.  In a few weeks we're going to visit my mom though, and she'll get to go on a whale watching cruise.

There's just so much to be thankful for in this world.