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- Central Virginia
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- 2019 CX-5 Reserve
I grew up working on a farm in Kentucky. I was the kid on a tractor with wagons hauling hay from one farm to another. One stop light in town and the cop just waved at me and other farm kids driving farm trucks. When I go back to Kentucky to visit family I about to have an anxiety attack sitting behind a tractor. People are waving at each other all friendly. Over 30 years in this city and I have forgotten what that is like. Maybe some day I can return to this, but my dream would be in a bungalow just off the beach looking at the ocean and riding a bike to the grocery store when needed. If that dream came true I won't even be on a car forum.
My Dream Spot
We moved to Northern Virginia in 1963 (I was 9 years old). In the late 70s, I ended up buying a home in that same neighborhood...a house I used to deliver newspapers to. I moved to this rural area (about 100 miles south) in 2010. I kept my Northern Virginia job & telecommuted.
I was here one week before they jerked my leash to drive back up for meetings. I got within 20 miles of where I lived for nearly 50 years, and my first thought was "I can't wait to get back home!" And "home" was my country place of exactly one week. And Northern Virginia became "that place." It happened that quickly.
Trust me, you'll adapt. And you'll never want to go back.
As an aside, I worked for a non-profit for 7 years before they shut down (I was Treasurer). We did home repairs in this county and an adjoining one for folks who could not afford to pay for them. I worked in nearly 40 homes during that time. I've been in old homes with 6 1/2 foot ceilings on land that was ceded to freed slaves. Nothing like repairing ceilings without needing a ladder. I've met some really, really nice people that I would never have otherwise encountered.
I don't mind the tractors and the occasional slow-poke in front of me. It's all part of the community.
Regarding your dream spot: Years ago I used to commute to work on my bike. I worked in Rosslyn, VA just across the river from DC. It was 12 miles each way. I also belonged to a local bike group and we would do day and weekend trips. Good times. I still have my Motobecane Super Mirage I bought brand new all those years ago.