With all my past posts sharing some of the places my wife and I have been, this week I would like to share what we consider home. Poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou once said, “The ache for home lives in all of us”. With that in mind, for us, home is the East coast, more specifically, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area.
It wasn’t my favorite when I first got there (originally from Ohio but spent the previous 9 years in California). By the time I got orders to leave, both my wife (born and raised in Philadelphia) and I were already missing it.
When I first arrived at New Jersey, I had a hard time getting California out of my head. California gave me great opportunities professionally as my first duty station. New Jersey instead offered me a place of belonging especially amongst the local community.
New Jersey
To make it better, the east coast offered several options to occupy someone’s time. For New Jersey, there is the infamous Jersey Shore where visitors can enjoy boardwalks and beaches. There is also the east coast’s version of Las Vegas, Atlantic City. Here you can visit one of the many casinos, restaurants, or events for a fun night out.
One of our favorite places in New Jersey is the shore. We have spent many summer weekends there with family and friends. There is something relaxing about just walking through the sand and listening to the waves. Even though winters in New Jersey were frigid and cold, that didn’t stop us from enjoying the shore when we could.
Just down the road, is the famous Atlantic city. This little city is filled all kinds of activities for visitors to get into. From dining, casinos, or events, there’s a number of ways people can enjoy their leisure time here.
Pennsylvania
My wife was born and raised in eastern Pennsylvania. Since our meeting, she has introduced me to some of the most amazing places in eastern Pennsylvania. One such place is Longwood Gardens.
This amazing estate is home to a number of different events and over 1,000 acres of beautiful flowers and trees. During the winter, travelers come from far and wide to experience the awe-inspiring holiday lights and the incredible flower displays. This is one of my wife’s favorite places to visit during the cold months.
The brilliant light set ups are truly breathtaking. On top of that, there is also a restaurant available if you want a bite to eat. If you get too cold, there are also firepits and hot chocolate stands located throughout the property.
Friends
Of course, it wouldn’t be complete without giving credit to some of the people who helped make this home for me. First, my wife obviously plays a big part in this. Being from the area, her family opened their doors to me and have always been great. But the one’s that really welcomed me in, are the friends I made while being there. Since meeting them, they’ve always been there when I needed them, and we make it a point to try and visit them when we’re in town.
Thank you for joining us this week. I hope you enjoyed reading these posts as much as I enjoyed making them. This is Fritz Thompson wishing you the best and safe travels!
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