Oh the Places We Go

All of this looking around at different cities has made me really interested in moving to a few places in particular; but, rather than drifting through, I want to actually settle into the communities.

The Northwest: Six months

Vancouver and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia BC, Portland and Eugene in Oregon, and Seattle, WA

I haven't actually been through this region at all; so, for the time being I would like to plan to be out there for six months, working, checking things out, etc. If it goes well, maybe I stay longer, maybe I return after some time at one of the other below-listed destinations.

Ghent, New York: One year

Hawthorne Valley Farm or Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

I want to complete an internship with this bio-dynamic farm, located about two and half hours up the Hudson Valley from New York City. It's pretty isolated; so, I have been hesitant about jumping in headfirst. It would be a great learning opportunity, nonetheless--just what I am looking for. On the other hand, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens sometimes has interns they train to perform all sorts of horticulture and gardening skills. As well, growfood.org has innumerable listings about opportunities and places where one can learn about organic agriculture.

Salt Lake City: Two years

Downtown SLC, Park City, Moab, the Canyons

So, I know way too many good people from here to not at least be somewhat curious what it is like to live in the region. I hear it is pretty chill and open-minded if you stay in the right areas. Who wouldn't love to live in one of the best states for outdoor recreation? I figure I should serve a reverse mission here.

Austin, Texas: Two years

A rather progressive city

After all of my research, I think it would be amazing to live in this center of arts and progressive research. I love that they have collective, cooperative social service projects for food education and cultivation, car-sharing, bicycle-sharing, among many other dynamic organizations. It would be great to learn what I can about how a city should be for a while. Who knows, if the heat doesn't turn out to be too bad, I might hang around indefinitely.

Spain: Five years

La Mancha, Alicante, Galicia, Morocco and France

I love Spain. I would be there right now if it didn't have two strikes against it: far from family and few people to date. I want to be here long enough to really sink into the community and long enough to travel throughout Europe. I haven't been to Germany or Prague. Obviously, I'm way behind. I don't want to live in France, but I would like to visit frequently while living in Spain. Also, living in Spain would be great for getting close to and learning about Morocco...and, then I learn Arabic, yeh.

Maine or Montana or both: Five years

Somewhere between the mountains and the edge of the world

These places are probably about the most beautiful wilderness cultures I could imagine. In Maine, you can find a spot between the Mountains and the Atlantic. In Montana,...well, I've never actually been there, but I warrant it is amazing. I could see setting up in these places and getting lost in time. I don't know when I would really come out.

There are some other places that I would like to check out or return to just for short visits, a few weeks, some of the most beautiful places on earth:

Point Reyes, California

Yosemite, California

The Adirondacks, New York

The Swiss Alps

Marseilles, France

La Mancha, Spain

Grand Tetons, Montana

West Virginia State Forests

Delaware River Valley, PA/NY

Mexico

Any remote tropical island

Of course, all of this is thinking in idyllic terms, not in raw terms. As much as I would like to follow this path, I would just as much like to move to Newark or Detroit and do all that I can to help these communities come to life out of very difficult circumstances. Wherever I go, really all I care about is building communities.