What do YOU take for granted where you live
 

Where do you live, and what parts of the area do you think you possibly take for granted that others (tourists) love to gravitate to?

With NASA and the Marshall Space Flight Center in town, Huntsville, Alabama is home to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Space Camp, U.S. Space Academy, and Aviation Challenge. They have the full size Space Shuttle replica (initially used for wind tunnel testing) with all the external tanks. There is even a Blackbird sitting out front. Til her death, it was the home to Miss Baker, the little spider monkey used in one of the first rocket launches. <BR> <BR>The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum can't hold a candle to what we have a mile down the street.

Let me be more clear. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center was the home to Miss Baker - not the Blackbird.

The Air and Space museum has the actual prototype shuttle used for landing tests, the Enterprise, and a Blackbird. They will be on display when the museum's extension at Dulles airport is complete. Anyway, back to the original question, I live in the DC area (and am a docent at Air and Space). I think I, and many others in the area, tend to get a bit jaded when it comes to all the treasures that DC has. For example, I am up on Capitol Hill all the time for work. As a result, I do not like to go there in my spare time, refuse to watch C-SPAN at home, etc. My husband is a White Hosue passholder and hates going downtown unless necessary (or I force him). Therefore, it is refreshing to see tourists who get so excited at seeing the House and Senate chambers, meeting their congressperson or strolling through the White House.

I agree with Ilisa that people tend to become jaded where they work or live each day and fail to see all of the treasures that are offered. I work in NYC and often forget the great parts, since I am usually rushing to and from the office to the train. But it is interesting to see the look in tourists eyes when they are in Times Square, or see the Empire State Building or the Met. I have taken out of town friends on 'grand tours' and have had fun myself. For instance, I had never been to the top of the World Trade Center, now I have been twice.

We in Chicagoland tend to take our great food supply for granted, especially our breads, pizza, meat, fish, cheese, vegtables, etc. Just a state in any direction and I am reminded how lucky we are to have such abundance in choices.

I've been living in North Jersey just outside NYC for the last year and quite recently began commuting into Manhattan on a daily basis for work. I spend a great deal of time in the city enjoying the music, food and cultural activities available in NYC and simply haven't been here for long enough to begin taking anything for granted. Living in congested North Jersey has, however, prompted me to reassess my hometown of Syrause NY, from which I relocated. What did I take for granted there? Down to earth, genuinely friendly and polite people, an absence of traffic problems, low housing costs, good drinking water, excellent air quality and easy access to pristine rural areas. I still love it here and career opportunities will keep me here for the foreseeable future but there's nothing like leaving home to increase one's appreciation for its best qualities.

MIAMI and the beaches. <BR> <BR>One of the destinations many people, especially from Germany come to. I don't go to the beach in Miami but once every couple months. The climate: I hate the humidity and am always complaining. the HEAT year round (except sometimes in Nov and Dec)--i'm always complaining about that too..The PEOPLE...the ones we have getting here from 1980 to the present have just made this place a dump. <BR> <BR>oh well...

Baltimore can boast of Cal Ripken of the Orioles. We've had season tickets for many years, and are so used to seeing him on the field, off the field, in restaurants, etc., that he is "just one of us." He's a curiosity to visitors, and a must-see at Camden Yards for out of towners. Tourists to the area have been overheard saying things like, "Oh my God, I saw Cal Ripken in the flesh!" <BR> <BR>Recently I've begun to think about how we see this baseball legend all the time, how he has become a fixture in our lives, and how we will all feel a collective loss when he no longer plays for the Orioles.

Live in: NYC. <BR> <BR>What I take for granted: Great museums. Haven't set foot in one in years. I only do that when I'm on vacation in another great city. Go figure.

We moved to the Charleston, SC area 5 years ago and I'm still in AWE of the many things to do...great restaurants, tourist attractions, wonderful ambiance, polite people, decent beaches, etc., etc... <BR> <BR>I guess my post is just to say I still haven't wearied of anything about this place! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

I live in Raleigh, NC, and take for granted, the spacious, tree-lined neighborhoods, the friendly people, the close proximity of wonderful beaches, mountains, and the wondrous Southern food!

I grew up in the Berkshires and was totally oblivious to it's beauty. Tanglewood--went a couple of times growing up, and of course yearn to go now. Leaves changing meant only two things...that there was yard work to be done now, but also that ski season was right around the corner. <BR> <BR>Lived in Savannah for 4 years as an adult, but like Carol in Charleston (above note), appreciated everything we had--breathtaking spring, a gorgeous historic district, friendly people, beaches and a darned nice climate. I was somewhat amazed that there were still letters to the editor regarding the War of Northern Aggression, however. <BR> <BR>Now, living in FL I myself resent our current war of northern aggression! :&gt; Appreciate the water and outdoor lifestyle. Take for granted the perfect winter climate and gripe too much about the summer. Living right on the coast I take the beautiful shore birds for granted...great blue herons, white herons, roseate spoonbills, woodstorks...can walk right past one now with hardly a glance. Not right, I know. That's tomorrow's Tanglewood.

Berkshires? It's STUNNING out there. I also live in Florida and we are always so flat and green. UGH

Annabelle, You are so right, and I realize that now. But growing up we vacationed for 3 weeks each year in northern Vermont...so when we got back to the Berkshires, it was "Oooh ugh, so flat". I didn't know "flat"! :&gt; It's all relative. <BR> <BR>Junior year in high school I went to Boca Raton with a friend and her family for spring break. That was my first (!)trip out of New England and honestly, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven, aka FL. It was wonderful...palm trees not maples, birches and spruce; beautiful beaches and ocean, not mountains; humid warmth (March...it was still pretty nice), and blooming hibiscus where we'd left patches of snow and brown leafless trees. I wondered if I'd ever get back to utopia even to visit...let alone live! :&gt; <BR> <BR>One of my husband's and my biggest regrets is that we didn't hang onto my parents pretty old colonial house after Mom passed away 4 years ago. Big mistake.

Hello <BR> <BR>I live in DC and one thing I take for gratned is the FREE museums. That means I can go for just a short amount of time - maybe just to see one exhibit, and not feel like I wasted money. When I visit museums in other cities, I am at first taken aback at the prices they charge, but then quickly remember that they are either 1) not subsidized by the Federal govt. or 2) not competing with museums that are subsidized. <BR> <BR>Howard

Gosh, with America as one giant strip mall connecting each city to another on our concrete riverbeds called highways, I guess I take for granted EVERY city. <BR> <BR>Every strip mall has its manditory: <BR>Applebees <BR>McDonalds <BR>Taco Bell <BR>Tanning Salon <BR>Laundromat <BR>$6 Haircut "Salon" <BR>Ben & Jerry's or TCBY <BR>Pizza Hut <BR>7-11 with Gas Station <BR> <BR>The list goes on. And repeats every mile till we see the "Now entering..." city sign. <BR> <BR>Gosh, then I can talk about the downtown "revivals" of every city with their own local flavor to draw in spenders... er, tourists. Gives me local pride in my town to have a Hard Rock, or a Godiva outlet. Let's tear down that historic building for another Revco. <BR> <BR>Kisses and hugs!

Definitely the winter weather. I'm in West Palm Bch, FL and it has been absolutely beautiful out the last few wks. No humidity,80 degrees and sunny. I went to the beach today and I couldn't picture it being any better.

In Maine, a lobster is just a lobster and you can get mighty sick of them.

I live in Helsinki, Finland. What I take for granted: <BR>fresh air, <BR>a relaxed lifestyle, <BR>unspoilt nature 20 minutes from the city centre, <BR>clean water on the sea beaches and in the many little lakes, <BR>sea kayaking after work in the summer, <BR>skiing to the office in the winter, <BR>fresh fish bought at the port directly from the fishermen, <BR>a good sauna in the evening, <BR>the silence of the forests, <BR>a high-calibre but affordable cultural programme, <BR>safety in the streets even at night <BR> <BR>

Thanks for making me think about this Dana... <BR>I live on the Space Coast of Florida and I can remember moving here from Wyoming and thinking how dead and brown Wyoming was and how lush and green and tropical Florida is! I have to remind myself of that every so often! <BR> <BR>Things I take for granted: <BR>--shuttle launches (can't even remember the last time I even looked out the window to see one) <BR>--wildlife preserves <BR>--beaches (maybe because I've seen much prettier beaches in other parts of the world) <BR>--sunshine (I gripe constantly during the summer even though I'm a sun worshipper - sometimes it just gets too darn hot!) <BR>--I'm sure I'm leaving TONS of stuff out...but that's the point, isn't it?

I live in london and to be honest I probably take all of it for granted and just complain about the bad things (of which thre are plenty). <BR> <BR>I only really realise just how brilliant it actually is occasionally when I manage to see it through an outsiders eyes. THen I do realise that it really is the best place in the world to live (and possibly to visit).

Hi There; <BR> <BR>I live in Halifax, NS which is a very popular tourist destination on the East Coast of Canada. Cruise ships come filled with Americans who come here to see our beautiul province for the scenery and the very friendly Martimers. <BR> <BR>I guess I take for granted the scenery, I have lived here all my life and have yet to see the Cabot Trail and the Cape Breton Highlands. I have never been whale watching, nor have I been to the the Martime Museum of the Atlantic which houses a perminant Titanic display. <BR> <BR>However, I do not take for granted the friendly people who live here and that is probably what we are best known for.

Hi, I live in Kapuskasing, a small town way up in northern Ontario Canada. What I take for granted: not having to lock my house doors EVER, not locking car doors, that I can take a walk any time day or night and feel safe, my children can come and go and I don't have to worry, knowing all my neighbours, doing the groceries and catching up on all the news of the people I love, I don't take for granted all the nice people and knowing that wherever my children are in town someone is looking out for them. Life is beautiful...I am fortunate to travel and do all the city stuff when in the city, in fact our city friends have less of a social life than we do! but it sure gets cold in the winter...Louise

I live in NC, and I almost, but not quite, take for granted the forested hills and camellias all winter. A visitor from Calif. couldn't get over all the green. A visitor from Vermont couldn't get over seeing roses in late November. Maybe that isn't exactly a tourist attraction, but it's certainly why a lot of people move here.

I'd been to Hunstville, AL (Space Museum and all) and you can have it. I've been to the Air & Space Museum and there is NOTHING like it.

i live in ireland, in the countryside, it is so peaceful and the scenery is out of this world, but mountains,valleys ,rivers,old castles,monistries,beaches,small villeges, small roads, no shops etc,everything you would want but when i go on holiday i try and find the biggest city. people always tell me how lucky i am to live in such a beautiful and peaceful place but all i can think of is what a pain in the ass it is that you have to drive everywhere!

My whole life has been spent here in San Clemente, California. I sometimes lose sight of the fact that we have perfect weather year round. I wake up to an incredible view of the blue pacific, palm trees and Catalina Island. Our small hamlet has friendly citizens, fresh seafood, and since we're half-way between L.A. and San Diego we are far enough away from the rat race, and close enough to city life. I'm always dreaming about traveling to exotic spots... thanks for the reality check.

I live in the Chicago area and agree with the great food choices. However, I think that Lake Michigan with all its beauty in the different seasons is what makes our city so special.Chicago was fortunate that its early developers kept the lakefront open with parks,swimming beaches,boat moorings and the fabulous area around Soldiers Field known as the"Museum Campus"(Shedd Aquarium,Field Museum and the Adler Planatarium).Flying into O"Hare and seeing the tall buildings against the lake is truly breathtaking.We are very blessed in Chicago!!!!!!!

I live in Sevilla,Spain,Europe <BR>The whole town is history pure and one can take weeks to discover it all...providing one has the time. <BR>Except for July, August and September the climate is very nice (warm).If anyone travels to the south of Spain,specially Andalucia , do not miss out on the 3 mayor places :Sevilla,Cordoba and Granada. <BR>700 hundred years of ocupation by the "moros",northern africans left their marks in beautifull buildings and gardens. <BR>Get on your bike and swim across!!

I take for granted that I live less that 4 minutes from my office. It would be difficult to adjust to a longer commute, as I am so spoiled now. I am so fortunate that I don't have to sacrifice beauty for convenience, as I live in an older, tree- lined neighborhood near the center of town.

I live in North Dakota, and what I take for granted up here is the fact that I can leave my doors unlocked at night. We can leave our cars running in the winter, (a nesessity up here, mind you) and not have to worry about them. <BR>It is different when we travel. last summer, my fiance and I stayed at a timeshare in a very populated state. We forgot to lock our car door the first night, (hey, I'll admit, we're rookies) And it was broken into. We lost two cheap cameras, and my fiance's watch. Thank goodness nothing else of value was left in there!!

Living, in Florida, I take for granted our warm winters, but reading these posts makes me realize there is no one perfect place. We have great beaches, but I never seem to take the time to visit them. We have great seafood, and our hosing costs are very low, compared to the other areas. However, we have lots of crime, so I envy the poster from N. Dakota. I keep my doors locked 24/7. We have virtually no mass transit in my area, very few museums, and few high paying jobs.

I also live in North Dakota. Yes, the winters can be brutal, but the thing I may take forgranted is how incredible the summers are. Warm (rarely hot), sunny, green -- and the most golf courses per capita in the country. <BR> <BR>With the wide open spaces and dust in the air, the sunsets are as spectular as anywhere. I love a week's vacation in February -- to someplace warm -- but the sun going down on the Gulf of Mexico is nothing like a summer night here. <BR>

Hi, I'm from Mobile. Lived here 10 years and have never been to see the battleship (Steven Segal filmed a movie on it) or the Bellingrath Gardens. I take for granted the Southern hospitality and the the lazy afternoons sipping iced tea on my grandmother's porch watching the sun set on the bay. We are also close to Dauphin Island and I can't tell you the last time I was down there windsurfing. I will miss Fairhope - just a drive across the bay to shop at Christmas, and Point Clear where the best entertainment can be found on a Sunday afternoon with a live band outside in the summers - Jimmy Buffet style. I am CA bound and am looking forward to the consistent nice beautiful weather.....very close to San Clemente I might add. However, I will miss Mobile and the occasional reminder of what it means to "sweat" in the humidity here. I will miss the old antebellum homes with hardwood floors and 12ft ceilings with the grandeur staircases;the beautiful oak tree lined streets, and a warm smile from a neighbor;The huge backyard full of friends w/ a good slab of ribs to BBQ. I am living in shock at the real estate in CA in comparison to here, but realize it's just the way it is. I will miss it all - including family. Funny how you take things for granted for so long until you are about to leave a place and realize just how good it really is. Thank you for the reality check....

I think that it's wonderful that we all have taken a moment to reflect that indeed the grass always APPEARS to be greener on the other side. I live in Florida and I always fly North for the cold weather, cool breezes, and foliage. I have never taken the time to see and enjoy the true beauty here in every corner. How nice. Thanks for the thread.

I've lived all my life in California, and while I don't know if visitors appreciate this, I appreciate it greatly when I return from traveling. We have a huge variety of foodstuffs and cuisines that I have yet to find anywhere else. Many cities have wonderful ethnic areas and specialty foods, but places like New York and Chicago may be more limited in what is fresh at any given time. Other areas may have lots of fresh food, but less diversity of styles. I love this about my area, and yes, I do sometimes take it for granted!

Robin, I feel the same way about my home city of Vancouver. I guess most people take for granted the variety of cuisine here, but moreso the cheap sushi and cheap salmon. Sushi is almost a staple diet in my circle of friends . Until you go elsewhere, you realize that many people haven't even tried the food that becomes so common where you live. <BR> <BR>At the same time, I'd say most people living in Vancouver take for granted the mild winter. While the rest of Canada freezes over and experiences cold, snow-covered winters, Vancouver remains lush and green. Until I was 10 years old, I thought that snow-free winters were typical for Canada. ;) <BR> <BR>Another thing people take for granted: Being close to the mountains for hiking/skiing, the ocean (boating/kayaking), the islands, the close proximity to the wilderness, and having an international border within an hours drive.

After watching the weather reports this week, I take for granted the mild winters we have in Florida. There is never a worry about whether you can get out of your driveway because of the snow, or the roads too iced over to drive safely. We never worry about whether we can pay our low winter electric bills. Of course, we do have to worry about hurricanes!

I live in Fla too and although I dont know what it's like to have to shovel snow, I can't imagine being in under dreary, gray and cold skies for more than one or two days, so I'm thankful for our blue skies and our sun. If a hurricane comes (and thank goodness we have one season for it), at least we know it's coming..