Do You Feel Lucky to Live Where You Do?

“If you are lucky enough to live in the mountains, you are lucky enough!” These are the words on a plaque near my front door. I see it daily, and I often read it and think about what it says.

If you're lucky enough to live in the mountains, you're lucky enough!

Driving home from town with a beautiful snow-capped mountain range visible through my windshield, working in my garden, or watching the sun sink behind a mountain peak, this phrase sometimes suddenly pops into my head.  I am grateful to live in such a beautiful place. . .

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... Sorry - there was a bit of an interruption just now.  I need a second to take a breath, and get back in the frame of mind I was in before I left off!  

A minute ago, my son picked up a bug crawling on the floor of his room, and brought it out to show me.  Yup - it was a TICK! It must have hitched a ride into the house, and then dropped off of the dog or one of us. (We were all working outside and around trees and tall grasses today.)  This is definitely one of the less appealing moments of living in the mountains.  I am unfortunately not writing this for any sort of dramatic flare either -this really just happened!

Only a blogger would snap a photo of a tick she just found! (FYI: Not true to size!)

But back to what I was saying ...

When I think about my wall hanging, I realize not everyone would agree with what it says.  Some people might argue "if you live in NYC, you are lucky enough ... or by the ocean ... or in Europe ... or the prairies ...or ...(fill in the blank).  I have lived a lot of different places in my life, and have found something to love about every place I have lived. Every place has merit, yet that merit may not suit every person.

Many people are extremely loyal to Montana, and enjoy living here immensely.  My family and I fall in that category. Another local expression “Montana, The Last Best Place” is prominently displayed in my home as well.  Most people enjoy visiting Montana. But not everyone wants to live here.

Montana.  The last best place.

Some people don't like that there is only a limited amount of shopping and dining options in many parts of Montana.  Or the extreme temperatures here.  Or the forest fires that can make the air smokey a lot of the summer.  Or worrying that when you visit a friend you will get stuck - or slide off their icy, steep driveway.  Or - the TICKS!

However, many of us who live in the mountains of Montana really do feel lucky enough.

How would you fill in the blank?

If you're lucky enough to live __________, you're lucky enough!