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Getting back into Minnesota.

I haven’t been into Minnesota in a while. But as I sit here listening to the Current with a cold beer (not a Minnesota brew, unfortunately, I’m not that good at setting the scene) I’m accepting that I’m back into Minnesota.

I’m going to throw in a disclaimer right here at the top: I was actually born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I don’t advertise that fact often, but I moved to Minnesota when I was about three years old. Now that I’ve got that out of the way…

I wore my state pride on my sleeve all throughout my high school days in Wisconsin, and then when I lived in Maryland and Massachusetts. It felt good to move back to Minnesota when I left for Marshall in summer of 2014, but I’ll be honest, it still felt like I was in a different state. (I mean that with all due respect to any Marshall people who may read this.)

However, a long-distance love is hard in any context. I subscribed to other newspapers. I followed other sports teams. I just got into the other states. For a hot minute I thought I’d settle down in Massachusetts. That didn’t happen.

But now that I’ve been back in the Twin Cities for nearly eight months, I gotta express my love for Minnesota again. It’s been nice to be in a place that feels like home. I feel a little settled down with my place. I know what stores I like. I know what beer I’m going to drink. I know my way around.

I think the best way to fall back in love with a place is to walk around it. I did that everywhere in Boston and I’ve started to do that again in Minneapolis. I’m about three miles from downtown Minneapolis. It’s a healthy walk, but I don’t mind doing it. I’ve started to know the bike trails, the lakes, and the streets. I think you’ve really made it once you can give directions to someone who isn’t familiar with the place.

I’ve rambled a bit with this post, but my point is, I feel like I’m at home again. I’m as close as to what I imagined my life would be like at this point in time.

I love listening to the Current and Minnesota Public Radio. I love knowing what big things are going on, like a state legislature that has done an absolutely horrible job. I like knowing all the new craft breweries that pop up. I like listening to the Replacements and Prince. I like that Prince’s death moved something in me (not that I found any joy in his passing.) I like that I’ll be going to a Saints game and a MN United game this weekend. I like picking up City Pages and noting places where I might want to check out. I like feeling settled in a place where I’m welcomed. I like being only a couple minutes from friends.

It’s good to be in a place that feels like home.