I Think I Like It Here

Hi, it's Jeannie (Max's mom) again!  As some of you know, I just got back from a trip to Japan, visiting Max's sister Phoebe, who is studying abroad in Tokyo.  I could go on and on about how much I love traveling, and love Japan in particular, but when Max asked me to do a guest post for today, what first came to mind was how grateful I am to live in Cooperstown.  I really do love to travel and seeing all sorts of locations and experiencing different cultures, but I love coming home, too.  I got back late at night and the next morning, I took our dogs for a long walk down to Council Rock.  It was not too hot and it was just gorgeous at the lakefront.  There were a ton of geese lounging on the grass and they were so cute as they took off into the water, each little gosling following their family.  Walking back home, I saw a family from our street taking a family bike ride and then I ran into a few more people I knew.  As I recently described to a friend from back home in Wisconsin who now lives in Japan, Cooperstown is such a great place to raise a family.  Life is easy here.  Except for summer baseball season, there's no traffic, no crowds.  For the most part, people are friendly and kind. Though the winters can be long and the springs too muddy, I love the change of seasons and summer can be perfect.  Even if it gets too hot and humid, it generally doesn't last too long.  Cool summer nights and mornings are the best.  I love waking up and going for a paddle through the fog on the glassy lake or going for a walk on the Clark Tower Trails.  While there's not the opportunities of New York, it's not so bad for such a small town.  Each year, there's usually a concert or two that I'm excited for at Ommegang, and a few decent exhibitions at the Fenimore Art Museum.  I used to love going to the Glimmerglass Opera, but I haven't gone in years.  And it's really pretty easy to get to the city; trust me, I think we went almost twice a month all last school year!  :)  This fall, we will have lived here for 20 years and right now, I'm perfectly happy to stay here...as long as I can keep traveling!  ;)