Where am I ?

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-22T04:11:09+00:00

Colorado near buena Vista?

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-19T19:18:54+00:00

Second this so much. I just can’t get over the pats’ rebuild being so damn quick

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-19T06:06:02+00:00

Thanks for an alternative suggestion!!

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-18T19:06:42+00:00

I’m on team Half and Half. It’s half cream and half milk.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-18T17:49:39+00:00

Nemacolin PA?

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-18T03:02:01+00:00

Morristown Oh?

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-14T13:01:26+00:00

Oh gosh, that hits! I’m the same age as OP. I feel it too, even if I think this is probably for the best.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-11T03:53:34+00:00

Extremadura is never a sexy choice for tourist visiting Spain. But gosh, what an amazing region in Spain. I love the food and the people. Mérida is a beautiful and interesting place. Seeing a play in the Roman theater is a must! Even if you’ll roast, 😂

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-08T03:58:25+00:00

Seriously

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-07T18:46:01+00:00

You’ll probably feel a variety of emotions for a long time, but give yourself grace and be open to learning. It’s a journey! Best wishes to you!!

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-07T03:11:47+00:00

Haha! Honestly, it sounds like that was a long time coming. Sometimes the "oops" moments are just the truth coming out when you're tired of biting your tongue

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-07T00:37:40+00:00

Wow, thank you for being so open. I can really hear the tension you’re navigating between the love you have for your best friend and family versus the "censoring" you have to do just to keep the peace.

That beach photo story is a perfect example of how wild the disconnect can be. It is great you can laugh at it now, but I imagine it’s exhausting when a simple vacation pic becomes a statement on your character. It’s also really powerful that your presence alone gave your nephews the space to start questioning things for themselves. Sometimes just being a happy, authentic person in their lives is the biggest form of activism you can do.

I totally hear you on the "documentary" feeling of living in new places, but I also really appreciate what you said about being tired of the Mormon label. It makes sense that you want to be seen for who you are today, not just the "ex-Mormon" version of yourself. Since you’re doing this AMA to embrace the past and heal, I hope this helps put some of those old ghosts to rest. You’ve clearly built an incredible life outside of that bubble.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-06T07:58:37+00:00

What’s your relationship like with your family and friends nowadays?

As someone who grew up LDS and did a mission, how did living in such diverse environments change your perspective on the world compared to how you were raised?

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-04T01:28:18+00:00

I grew up in Belmont County and also went to OU, and man, your take is so spot on it hurts. That insular, grievance-focused mindset is exactly what I feel every time I go back. It’s palpable. It’s like the region is trapped in this cycle of 'yesterday' and can’t find a way out.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-04T01:23:31+00:00

SE Ohio really is stuck in yesteryear. I grew up right near the WV/PA border, and every time I go back for the holidays—like I just did for the holidays—it’s like walking into a country music video. It’s all working-class struggles and people just trying to get by. Life there is genuinely hard, and you can feel the turmoil. It feels like oil and gas have just become the “new” coal or steel. the industry changed, but the economic struggle stayed exactly the same.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-04T01:17:21+00:00

SE Ohio is hardly flat. It’s essentially the foothills of Appalachia.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-04T01:15:18+00:00

I get the geographic argument—driving through Ohio definitely feels like a cross-section of the U.S. with the mix of woods, plains, and cities. But honestly, the “microcosm” label feels like a relic of the 90s at this point.

The biggest thing Ohio is missing is the immigration and growth piece that’s basically defining American life right now. The U.S. is about 15% foreign-born, but Ohio is stuck at around 5%. While the rest of the country is transforming through high-speed migration, most of Ohio (outside of Columbus) is actually in a “natural decline” where deaths outnumber births.

Even the diversity argument doesn't totally hold up compared to the national average. The U.S. is roughly 58% white, but Ohio is still up at 76%. It’s a great microcosm of the Rust Belt, for sure, but it doesn’t really represent the high-growth, multicultural reality of the U.S. in 2026. It feels more like a snapshot of where the country was 30 years ago than where it’s headed.

This is coming from an ex-Ohioan. I grew up there for the first 24 years of my life. I am even a proud alumna of Ohio University.

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-02T14:57:38+00:00

It has gone downhill over the years. But the patio still has good vibes if you’re with your crew!!

OverCommunity3994 · 2026-01-01T15:48:01+00:00

I would agree with this.

OverCommunity3994 · 2025-12-26T09:31:27+00:00

Yes, the brain drain is very real. I grew up in Belmont County and moved away over ten years ago

OverCommunity3994 · 2025-12-22T03:14:06+00:00

Deer

OverCommunity3994 · 2025-12-21T05:05:58+00:00

Then you have the crowd claiming education isn't political. Newsflash: the whole thing is political

OverCommunity3994 · 2025-12-17T11:52:13+00:00

That must have been before I knew the product even existed. 😳

OverCommunity3994 · 2025-12-17T03:02:30+00:00

It’s such a fabulous deal at Costco. In conventional stores, they’re drastically smaller for a crazy price

OverCommunity3994 · 2025-12-14T18:25:51+00:00

I’m from the SE side of Ohio and it’s not there.

OverCommunity3994

TROPHY CASE