It’s hard for people to wrap there head around my undying love for pastures and small towns just a drive away from a middle sized city. But how perfect is it to drive half an hour one way and get horse farms, then drive half an hour the other way and get downtown? It’s like a dream come true. I’m sure some of my love for the country has to do with the fact that I barrel race, the fact that my safe place is in a saddle. But I do love the fact that if I want to go catch a movie or go out, it’s not the hardest to find a place to do that either.

I’ve been labeled a homebody my whole life. A Carolina Girl through and through. I love the culture down here; the people, the ya’lls, and sweet tea. Our beautiful weather and southern hospitality. People like to get on me about it, saying that I’m never going to get to be part of a different culture. Which goes back to the age old question of settling where your comfortable and if its a good move. Though I clearly see no reason that I need to force myself to permanently push my comfort zone when I can just jump out of it on occasion.

As long as your expanding and growing within yourself, does it really matter how you choose to do it?

You see, I’ve said it millions on millions of time, stealing lyrics from a Miranda Lambert song because nothing else fit. “I was born a red dirt girl.” I’m emotionally connected to North Carolina, or the Carolina’s for that matter. The land of red clay paths. The great two and a half hour drive in one direction to get to the beach, and two and a half hours in the other direction to get to the mountains. I loved this place so much that I didn’t leave for school. Yeah, I moved out and I’m in dorms, but it’s only a twenty minute drive to make it home. I’ve made a claim on this place, I refer to it as mine. I want to stay a Carolina local. I’ve imprinted on the land, weather, and people. And while I hope I’ll be able to travel the world and keep seeing foreign places and having grand adventures, I always want a solid home to come back to. I believe it would be necessary to keep me sane.