For so many of us Michiganders, there's a little place we associate with as a second home, a comforting getaway, a place we all call "Up North." For those who live in Michigan, the term is as clearly defined as any other common vocab word, but for those outside our special state may have no idea what we're talking about.

If asked to explain what exactly "Up North" is or even where it is, every person who has an association would describe it differently. For me, "Up North" has its own unique meaning, and probably different from others who love it just as much as I do.

So here are some things that sum up the definition of "Up North" in my terms.

"Up North" is where...

1. mornings involve a cup of coffee and blueberry buckle on the front porch of the cabin

2. afternoons are spent on the calm lake with the bright sunshine

3. nights consist of bonfires as the sun sets over the water, s'mores, and Grandpa's best jokes

4. worries and daily stress cease to exist

5. winning euchre and other card games becomes the most important part of the evening

6. you'll always have a petoskey stone or sea glass in your pocket and sand in your shoes

7. meals are created from all-day snacking from a picnic basket or cooler

8. nature has a way of looking even more stunning than it usually does.

9. one can have their own temporary escape into a world unlike the reality of their every day life

10. life is simply better