Everyone has their hometown. It's the place where they grew up in, it's the place they spent their awkward teens in, it's the place they wanted to get out of for so long. I moved out of my hometown about two and a half years ago. I was ready to get out and try something new. I knew there would be things I don't miss..never did I think there would be things about my hometown that I would miss. A lot. But here I am sitting in my childhood home slightly wishing I don't have to go back to college and I can stay here forever.
What I DO miss about my hometown:
The beach
Being able to just wander off and have that sanctuary of just pure stillness and calmness that is the beach.
The food
All of the different hole in the wall places. There's one from every continent, from Cotijas to Pho Cao Dao to Fogo de Chão. There's so much variety within these 20 miles of paradise.
My friends
My hometown friends. The ones I've gone to school with for so long who have seen me at my absolute worst but still love me anyway because they've been there from the beginning.
The weather
Earthquakes and brush fire, I can handle. Tornadoes and hurricanes, I cannot. Even just the thought of there possibly being a huge storm on the way freaks me out. But waking up in the middle of the night to earthquake.. I can easily fall right back to sleep. So Cal has the perfect weather that I love and adore.
My dog
I take her for granted too much. She was my first best friend, and at times, she was my only best friend.
Craft beers
San Diego is one of the top cities for craft beer. There's so many different brewerys and at every restaurant there's always a wide variety of beers to choose from.
The mountains
Theres mountains everywhere. I never appreciated them until I left. But there's always a mountain to climb. From Devil's Punch Bowl to Mt. Woodson (Potato Chip Rock) to Iron Mountain. There's always a trail somewhere.
Security
Always having somewhere when you think you've lost yourself. To remember where you came from and what made you want to leave in the first place. Home is where you have those random streets where you got kissed for the first time walking home from school, or that park you would sneak off to in the middle of the night to hang out with that boy your parents didn't approve of.
My parents
My dad is my best friend. He's the one who started my fascination with the film industry, he's the one showed me the beauty that is the stars and the planets, he's the one who understands my science fiction addiction. He's always there to listen to me, I'm daddy's little girl. My mom, is my mom. She only wants the best for me and although she suffocates me sometimes, I know she means well.
What I DONT miss about my hometown:
Overpopulation
Living in one of the top 10 most populated city in the united states can get a little annoying. Traffic always, people everywhere, NO PARKING EVER. It's too much to handle.
High School classmates
You leave high school and (some) leave your city moving onto bigger things but nobody really knows who you are after you graduate. Everyone changes after high school. But still you'll always be that girl who got pregnant in high school, or that girl who got too drunk at her first party and threw up everywhere, or the girl who loved Lady Gaga so much she dressed exactly like her everyday.
Overpricing
From gas, to drinks, to food, to rent; everything is more expensive then it needs to be.
The person who I was in this town
Up until the time that I moved away, I was in a very very dark state of mind. I was depressed and hated every little thing about everybody and every place. When I come back to my childhood home and I'm in my room, trying to fall asleep, those memories will come back. And I remember that 16, 17, 18, 19 year old girl I was, and I remember how thankful I am I got out when I got out.
"Cause when you’re lost out in this crazy world. You got somewhere to go and get found. Thank God for hometowns" -Carrie Underwood
