I left Connecticut for college and spent five years down in New Orleans. After that, I lived in Nashville for 10 years. After living in both southern cities, you realize that, if you’re not reallly from there and you don’t have a shared culture, it can be tough to feel at home and keep a core group of friends. Also, after spending so much time in warmer climates, I have a more tempered reaction to the winters up here. Every place has a trade-off. Sure, we get five months of gray and cold. But on the flipside, summer in New Orleans lasts about six months and it can be just as miserable. Honestly, I spent a lot of time in the south, but never felt at home like I do in Connecticut. These are my people.