Previously, I wrote about how I had hadn't known what kudzu is until recently.

Several people—well, actually what seems like pretty much everyone I’ve communicated with since—has described to me their knowledge of and past experiences with the fruitful plant.

What can I say? I came to North Carolina from “up North” in the fall of 2000 with no idea that I’d still be living in Pitt County almost 12 years later. I also had no idea that I had so much to learn about my new environment.

One thing I can say for sure is that, while Long Island, N.Y. plays heavily into who I am today, I am enjoying life in the South.

Which made me wonder: If Southerners (those born and bred, and those who have “adopted” the region) had to pick their favorite thing about life here, what would they say?  

So, with a little help from the Internet (Google search and Facebook), I collected some answers to that question.

For example, in an interview with Southern Living, country music star Kellie Pickler said that her favorites are, “The hospitality and the sweet tea.”

Both of those are on the top of the list for many others as well, as are: mild winters; okra, hushpuppies, fried chicken, BBQ and other regional delicacies; and the comfortably slow pace of life.

Here are some other answers I came across on various websites specifically about living in North Carolina and/or Pitt County that are perhaps a little less regularly cited, but nonetheless noteworthy:

“Walking a park trail just about anywhere is nice.”

“There are so many gorgeous places to photograph. Lakes, mountains, rivers, waterfalls…”

“Bluebirds in my backyard.”

“I like the sound of the frogs, especially around dusk.”

“Banana pudding, Eno River State Park, the rampant use of the phrase ‘get with.’”

“During
the summer, I love to take a trip for a day or weekend and explore the numerous vineyards that we have in the area.”

“Go(ing) catfishing.”

“Local coffee shops where you can sit and read a book and overhear all kinds of interesting conversations.”
 
“I like to really not have to worry about traffic.”

“Attend(ing) an ECU football game and tailgate with my friends.”

But, perhaps the most obvious yet poignant response about the South came from a Facebook friend and ECU colleague, Dr. Glen Hubbard:

“For me, it’s not so much the location on the map as the basic fact that it’s home.”

How true.

When you take time to really look around, there are probably hundreds of things we love about wherever we live; things that we might normally take for granted or not even really realize unless we move somewhere else. Of course, no place is perfect and we might also have a list of cons (I guess every region has its own “kudzu”). Long Island had great pizza, beaches, music, and so much more that I miss with a passion. It was also expensive as heck, riddled with traffic, freezing in the winter and you have to pack your own bags at the grocery store. Now, I live in a serene and scenic town. In fact, the first half of my drive to work each day often feels more like cruising the breathtaking countryside than a commute. I work with fascinating people from the South as well as from all locales over the world. And I’m constantly astonished by how much Pitt County really does have to offer in terms of small businesses, recreation and more.  

Put another way, the collection of experiences we have with friends, family and others in the community; the way we choose to unwind and have fun; and the contributions we make through work and volunteering all add up to something pretty complex.

But--if we’re lucky--we can describe the place we live in one simple word, “home.”


Got any favorites you want to add to the list? Feel free to post them in the comments section.