Home Sweet Happy Place

Let me ask you all a question. If someone were to ask you where your happy place was, what would you tell them? Is it a favorite vacation spot? A local coffee shop? A park with a scenic trail? Or your house/apartment? Everyone will have a somewhat different answer to this question, but what matters is that you have an answer! For me, mine will forever and always be Tennessee.

For as long as I can remember, my family has been going to Tennessee for vacations, specifically the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area. My parents spent some time in Tennessee with their families when they were younger, so it makes sense that they kept that tradition going with my brothers and I. Prior to adulthood, every summer was spent in Tennessee. We would go on hikes, swim in steams and rivers, go to waterparks, play mini golf, and go to dinner shows. We went so much that my parents and aunt bought a condo in the mountains so we always had somewhere to stay and call our own down there.

We even extended our trips to include Thanksgiving. Let me tell you, nothing is more relaxing than having Thanksgiving dinner with the mountains right outside your window. Spending Thanksgiving in Tennessee was so chill and laid back that it made the holiday even more enjoyable. There was no pressure to have dinner done by a certain time and dressing up was not required. For example, my Thanksgiving dinner outfit every year was a pair of black leggings and a long-sleeve shirt from a winery that had "High Class My Ass" written on the back. And if memory serves me right, most years my one brother wore a t-shirt and sweatpants. Safe to say, stretchy pants were definitely the right choice. Also, Black Friday shopping down there was an event. My aunt, mom, brother, and I would dress up each year (matching elf costumes, onesies, etc.) without a care in the world because we knew we weren't going to see those people ever again. Our outfits also made fellow shoppers and employees smile and laugh, which was an added bonus. And yes, there is photograph evidence of these outfits.

I also grew up listening to strictly country music, so that helped strengthen my love for Tennessee. Country music is the only thing you hear down there and my family is no stranger to playing a Bluegrass CD or country oldies while we are cooking or hanging out on the back balcony. Anytime I turn on country music, I like to close my eyes and imagine that I am in a car driving through the winding mountain roads. It just hits different and I live for it.

Now that I am an adult who lives away from home with a job and responsibilities, family vacations aren't as doable as they used to be. Nevertheless, I do my best to get to Tennessee as often as I can. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Tennessee and it was the best decision we made. Not only was it relaxing and a much needed trip after the stress of wedding planning, but it also didn't break the bank. My family was also just down there this past summer which was a lot of fun, especially because both of my brothers are of legal drinking age so I can now sample moonshine and whiskey with them! I feel old for a second, but the liquor helps that feeling subside rather quickly.

We also love taking friends down with us, too! From 6th grade through junior high, my aunt, one of my best friends, her mom, sometimes my mom, and I would go to the condo in the winter to watch the Lady Vols basketball team play. Those trips were great and a nice bonding experience for us all. We also spent two New Year's Eves there too! The first year involved shoving 11 people into a two bedroom condo, and the second year we grew wiser and booked a second condo for the kids because that year significant others joined the trip. Overall, both years were memorable in the best ways and to this day we joke about being packing like sardines in the condo and about not being able to tell the difference between cheese and butterscotch fudge (that one is an inside joke, sorry). I'm hoping one day in the near future I can get a girls trip organized and take my three best friends with me. Now that would be a weekend!

Tennessee has always held a special place in my heart. As soon as we cross the Tennessee state line, I swear I can feel all my built-up stress just melt away. Any anxiety that was hiding inside simply disappears when I roll down the windows and smell that mountain air. And let me tell you, there is nothing more gorgeous than a sunset over the mountains. Just make sure you don't miss it, because it goes quick! Relaxation is also taken to another level when you are drinking your morning coffee or evening adult beverage on the balcony. There is not a care in the world and you wish your life could stay that way.

Unless there is something specific planned for the day, there is never any rush to do anything and days are planned the morning of. Hiking there is also fun too. The scenery along the trails is breathtaking and it's always a bonus when a bear makes an appearance. A lot of the trails end at some sort of waterfall, and all of them are beautiful in their own way. There has only been one hike that has made us hate our lives, though. I believe it was up to Rainbow Falls. Family, please correct me if I am wrong. But the trail was 3-4 miles ONE WAY and we decided to do this in mid-July. I am really glad we decided to take a before and after picture, because it really captured how exhausted we were at the end. It is safe to say that we haven't, and probably won't ever, do that hike again.

I always joke with myself that a part of me was left in New York City after my trip in 2019, but if I'm being totally honest, I will always choose Tennessee over any other place in the world. If I could live there, I would move in a heart beat. The mountains are always calling and I answer whenever I am able. Being there hits the refresh button on my mental, physical, and emotional health and I always feel like a brand new person when I get home. Also, something about that area just inspires me and my creativity is at an all time high. Who knows, maybe one day I will go on a personal writing retreat in the mountains. Now there is a dream!

I really hope you all have a happy place of your own. Everyone should have somewhere they can go and get away from day-to-day life and recharge their battery. A place that has a special meaning to them and holds a special place in their heart. Maybe a place that one day, they can share with a friend, partner, or family so that they can also experience those positive emotions that are attached to it. I am so glad that I have my happy place. The Great Smoky Mountains have truly captured my heart and soul. And I say this with great pride... Rocky Top, you will always be, home sweet home to me!

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If you have made it this far, thank you for reading! I do have a favor to ask you all, though. With the holidays coming up, things are going to be getting a little busier. However, I really want to do my best to post every week. With that being said, in order to keep me honest and on track, I am asking you guys for ideas and suggestions on future blog post topics!

If you are from Facebook, just go back to the post that brought you here and comment your ideas/suggestions! If you aren't from Facebook, or just don't want your suggestions to be public, just go back to my blog homepage, click on the chat button, and fill out the form. I plan to put all your suggestions into a list and use them in the event of writers block or lack of time for personal creativity. Thank you all for your continued support! It really does mean a lot having you all here.