This really isn't meant as a condemnation of Joplin, but there are certain aspects of any community that are special and unique. Having lived most of my life in Eugene, Oregon, I grew especially fond of the culture there in several respects. And, okay, so the list is actually eleven things, not ten. Hey, it
could've been thirty!
- The geography, especially the mountains (Oregon is more geographically diverse than most of the country combined.)
- The climate (mild summers, mild winters, lots of rain and if you want cold, climb a mountain!)
- Friends
- Family
- Fishing (Oregon has everything the Midwest has, plus the ocean, trout, salmon, steelhead, etc.)
- The University of Oregon ( Yes, it's a bastion of immorality, anarchy, liberalism and neo-pagan crap, but I will bleed green and yellow 'til I die. GO DUCKS!)
- Track Town Pizza (Bloomington had a better culinary scene, but Track Town is awesome.)
- Seeing world class athletes jogging around town. (Eugene isn't "Track Town" for nothing.)
- The performing arts community (truly special)
- Public lands (camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing, skiing, etc., are all much easier to access and in prettier areas than Midwest states offer.)
- Flora and Fauna (biodiversity is not something you see in the Midwest, comparatively speaking. Just compare landscaping if you don't believe me.)
- Bike lanes
