![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:07 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
After living in 4 states in a little over 3 years, it’s slowly dawning on me that home is where I actually want to be... which is strange since home is Alabama, and according to the internet it’s terrible. May 26th, 2012 was what I thought was a dream come true, I was escaping the population 400 town that was seemingly escapeless, and I was going to a place that made pretty much all of my graduating class jealous to boot. Then after about 3 months in Florida, that new wore completely off. I realized that it was everything I hated about home and more, with shittier more boring scenery. After about a year and half of that, I had to get out and I did. I went off to school to Wyowreck. 3 months of that train wreck and freezing air, my lungs decided to move me back to Florida. Truth is, I became a complete wreck after that. I completely broke down. I became an asshole, a recluse. I didn’t really want to go on, because I just assumed something else would throw me into reverse. Then I received news, we were moving. We did. I got a decent steady job that I’m not even qualified for, and things have been going pretty well. I’m off my anti-depressants, I’ve lost a little weight, but it just doesn’t feel right. I like living here, and enjoy the area, but I miss the simplicity of a small town. I like the relaxed attitude and complete lack of traffic. So as I’m sitting here getting paid to babysit a machine, I miss my shitty little town near the Tennessee state line. I miss the people, my friends, the rolling hills, the back roads, and the rivers. For your wasted time, here is the Slowrunner last time it was in Alabama.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:08 |
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![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:09 |
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If you were to go back, you might hate it for the same reasons that made you leave. Just gotta find a place that suits all your needs and wants, I guess? Home is where you make it.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:19 |
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Where were you in Alabama in the first place?
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:26 |
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I hear you. One of my goals in life is to get enough money to move out of California. Being a Navy kid, I never got acclimated to most climates for a long while. I’ve been here for five years, and while I’ve made plenty of good friends and have some good memories, I can’t ever say I would want to spend time here. The high costs of living and the political differences between me and the state government just make me want to move somewhere else. I’ve often said that moving to Texas is where I want to settle down and live my life out, and I’m still going to keep that promise no matter what.
Some people just aren't acclimated to the big city lifestyle, you want to move back to Alabama and you got the cash, then go for it man. Be happy wherever you feel will make you happy.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:26 |
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If you’ve passed the rocket on I65, you’ve been through my home town.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:28 |
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I love how the state actually spent millions on the rights to the phrase “Sweet Home Alabama”, even though the song is really about telling Neil Young to fuck off.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:28 |
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Huntsville has more than 400 people though
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:30 |
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Really though, every time I go back, I don’t remember why I wanted to leave. I think it was more of an “Everybody wants to leave, but here is my chance.” situation. I think I left more to say that I left and escaped. But it turns out that I really fucking like not having neighbors that can see my house.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:32 |
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You’re thinking of the Space and Rocket Center, I’m talking about the Rest Stop/Alabama welcome center with a Saturn rocket in the middle of it.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:32 |
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Is it one of those small towns on Highway 72? I’ve been to Huntsville several times, but I don’t know the names of the towns we pass.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:34 |
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Cash is the problem though. I plan on going back to a tech school in a few months, then move back. Unless I get a huge lucky streak.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:34 |
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I've probably passed it but I don't remember it. My family usually goes to Birmingham most summers.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:36 |
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You’ve passed through the county I’m sure, but I lived north of Athens, which is where I65 and 72 meet.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:37 |
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I’VE BEEN THERE! I’d have to dig out the 4x6 of 8 year old me standing under the rocket, though. XD
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:37 |
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Unless you’ve crossed the state line on I65, you probably haven’t seen it. I wouldn’t think you would go that way from Memphis.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:41 |
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For a while it was all to see there, and I have a few pics of me under it. We also used to picnic there(So many parks around, why we went there I have no clue) before my Pop passed. Plus I could see it from my house as I went down my driveway.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:42 |
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Ok then maybe I haven’t. Sounds familiar but I can’t place it. Hope everything works out for you. If you can deal with the living costs, I’d recommend Franklin, TN. Small(ish) town, but close enough to Nashville to be not dull. Good luck with all this, man.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:45 |
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I could be in Nashville in less than an hour, even in the Slowrunner. That’s one of the reasons I miss Alabama though, was the cost of living.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:48 |
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“I was escaping the population 400 town that was seemingly escapeless”
Sometimes what you thought was a Prison turns out to be a Paradise.
I’ve been back in Chicago since March and I’m working my ass off to get back to semi-rural Iowa. I can’t f-ing stand it here!
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:50 |
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I miss being able to do donuts and stupid shit in my own backyard. It was awesome. I miss freedom™ .
![]() 11/16/2015 at 22:57 |
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Donuts would be awesome! I’ll go simpler. I miss my Fire pit. People call the Cops on you out here if you have a smallish, but contained, fire!
![]() 11/16/2015 at 23:00 |
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I've never had that problem thankfully.
![]() 11/16/2015 at 23:03 |
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I’m not sure where home is. I hate DC with a passion along with it’s surrounding everything, so this isn’t it.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell you if you asked me....
![]() 11/16/2015 at 23:10 |
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A few months ago, I probably would have told you the same thing. But then in between living in Florida and here, we spent some time back home with family, and I didn’t want to leave. I haven’t had that feeling in a long time, and it felt awesome to feel at home.
![]() 11/17/2015 at 16:03 |
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I can definitely understand missing the town you can from and realizing as you get older you are missing out being there rather than surpassing your old self where you are now.
![]() 11/20/2015 at 02:33 |
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Amen, man.
It’s kinda nice to have hundreds of places to go out to on a weekend, but that shit gets old after a while for somebody like me. Much prefer camping out in a mountain meadow with friends.
Been here in Chicago for the past 15 years and I still hate it. Dumb drivers, stuff is too expensive, list goes on.
Can’t wait to see where work takes me next year as some elevation would be nice after being the flat, boring lands of the Midwest for 15 years...