Thanksgiving is only a day away and as I sit in my office trying to wrap up before the long weekend, I'm struck by how very fortunate I am to be able to live and work here in Southern Maryland. It's easy to overlook how fabulous Southern Maryland really is. I've lived in many different places, but Southern Maryland has always had a special place in my heart. In honor of the season I've put together a list of things I'm grateful for that are unique to our local area and culture. As we prepare to give thanks tomorrow please take a moment to think about what a fantastic area that we live in and how fortunate we are to live in Southern Maryland!
9) The Indian head Rail Trail
The are plenty of public parks, trails, beaches, etc. in Southern Maryland, but the rail trail is unique. It holds a special place in my heart because it's not only a fantastic place to exercise and enjoy nature, but it's also a brilliant use of recycling ugly, unused land. The creation of the trial has been a blessing for Southern Maryland, and I'm very glad it's so close to home!
8) The Charlotte Hall Farmers Market
Seriously, have you ever been to a better farmers market?!? This place is huge, the selection is great, and I love going through the various vendor stalls and haggling for a deal. What makes this farmers market so special to me is not just the delicious amish baking and vegetable selection, but the antiques, knick-knacks, tools, and other "stuff" you can find there.
7) The Delicious Local Food
If you grew up in Southern Maryland and spent any time living somewhere else, then you probably know first hand that there's no place like home when it comes to food. From the Southern Maryland stuffed ham to the local blue crabs, It's hard not to love the local flavors. There's something to be said for putting Old Bay on pretty much everything and having to "work" for your meal, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. A bucket of crabs and a cold beer is the prefect way to make any meal better, IMHO.
6) The Access To Local Waterways
I can't believe how many people overlook what a great resource our local waterways are! From kayaking through the ghost ships at mallows bay to the multitude of fishing derby's, The Chesapeake Bay region is one of the most versatile places to live in the world. I consider myself very fortunate to have the ability to do anything from sailing to water skiing without having to visit a fancy resort in Ocean City. I'm also very grateful to help contribute to the local economy by supporting our local crabbers on a regular basis!
5) Southern Maryland's Proximity to Washington, D.C.
Sure, the traffic is bad, and I'd never want to live in a major city (again), but how lucky are we to live right outside the freakin' Nation's Capitol?? It's less than an hour drive to some of the greatest museums in the WORLD! The monuments are beautiful, and while most Americans dream of someday being able to visit and see D.C. for themselves, we have access to it year round! I could spend weeks at the national archives and library of congress alone, and no other city in the country has the sort of cultural resources that we often take for granted.
4) The Farmland We Get to See and Enjoy
My drive to and from work every day includes driving past several farms, which means I get to see the crops slowly mature and the horses playing in the fields constantly. It's important to me because it eases the stress and tension from a long day at the office, and it puts life into a much better perspective. No matter what a day at the office looks like I know the view on the drive home is going to be beautiful, and it serves as a reminder of how important patience is in life. Farmers wait months to be able to harvest their crops, and yet most of us take for granted the time and effort required to actually put food on the table. Driving past the farms in Southern Maryland every morning helps keep that in perspective.
3) The Car Culture in Southern Maryland
Have you seen how much there is to do for gear heads in Southern Maryland? Between the drag strip at Budds Creek to the Demolition Derbies, there's always something car-related happening from pretty much March to October. I'm personally out at as many classic car shows as possible, enjoying the people and friendships made by a mutual love of hot rods and muscle cars. Car shows in Southern Maryland have a life of their own, it's a tight knit community, and one I'm very grateful to be a part of.
2) The Mix of Suburbia and Rural Living
Say what you will, but I love the down home feeling of Southern Maryland, and I also love the convenience of living close to so much commercial retail business. It's great to be a short drive from a multitude of restaurants and shopping while still having that "know your neighbor" kind of feeling. It's hard to find that sort of dynamic, but it's definitely here, and I'm very glad to be a part of it.
1) The Family Atmosphere
Southern Maryland is a great place to have a family, IMHO. The range of resources and activities for families is outstanding, the school systems are great, the economy here is one of the strongest in the nation, and Southern Maryland is where I've been fortunate enough to grow up and call home. At the end of the day, family is what you make of it, and I am incredibly grateful to be surrounded by the greatest friends and family that someone could ever hope for. I'm not the sentimental type, but I couldn't imagine wanting to be anywhere that has better people than the folks that live here in Southern Maryland.
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