Gratitude: December, Part II

So it seems that you like hearing about what I'm grateful for every month. Although it's a few days late, here is what I am grateful for this December.

I am grateful for my life in Salt Lake City. When I moved away when I was 18, I swore never to return. Then, two years ago this month, Steve and I decided to leave Hawaii and move back to Utah. At the time, my grandmother had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and I was six months pregnant. It was a time in my life where I needed to be close to family. So, we packed up our belongings and shipped everything to Salt Lake City, including our dog, two cats, our car, and more than twenty boxes of crap.

Now, two years later, I am so grateful that I live in Salt Lake City. We have my family around, which is incredibly helpful when it comes to Steve and I making money and me going to school. I don't know how I could have taught five week-long summer camps at the Museum of Natural History this past summer without family. I don't know how I could go to school without family around.

Steve has a great job with great benefits, and we have created a network of loved ones that surround us with support, friendship, and community.

I love living in an urban city, yet being so close to stunning mountains and hours away from red rock canyons. I love the community of Salt Lake City, which is filled with eclectic, optimistic locals who thrive on farmer's markets, buying from local businesses, and making Salt Lake City a greener city. I love how many parks are within walking distance from my house. I love my neighborhood (though not my asshole neighbors), and I love that I have a strong community surrounding me that supports me, including my friends, my family, and the people that I have met through school, like Jack Turner, Terry Tempest Williams, Bobby Kennedy, who is coming to class today, and my advisor, Stephen Tatum.

I can't imagine living anywhere else. Yes, I miss Hawaii at times, like last night, when I heard "Mele Kalikimaka", the Hawaii-based Christmas song. But living in Salt Lake City is perfect for me right now. Coral is growing up close to family (though I would love if Steve's family got to see her as much as my family), which is one of the main reasons that we decided to move back to Salt Lake City. I love being close to my family.

So today, almost two years to the day (we moved back to Salt Lake City on 12 December 2007) since I moved back to my hometown, I am grateful for living in Salt Lake City.