Affinity

Did you ever feel that you just belong somewhere? I don’t just mean that you are happy where you are, but there is a feeling deeper than that. An affinity. Like Jon Snow and Winterfell. Like Winnie the Pooh and his Hundred Acre Woods. Like Norm and his barstool at Cheers. I’ve recently, after a decades old build up, have realized that my affinity is to the Great Lakes Region and, in particular, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

I was first introduced to this area in the nineties when I had a corporate job and I traveled a lot. My first sight of a Great Lake was, Superior when I was in Duluth, Minnesota. Spectacular. I haven’t seen Duluth in decades but still think of it often. My first foray into the Upper Peninsula was Iron Mountain, Michigan. Again, it’s been decades but I remember details. Kalamazoo gave me my first sight of Lake Michigan. Oswego, NY was Ontario. And Erie was, well, Erie. I was hooked.

A recent vacation, with my daughter Emma, to Sault Ste Marie and Mackinac City and Island validated my thinking. I love the Great Lakes. This vacation let me complete seeing all of the Great Lakes. Huron is as amazing as the others. My hiking in recent years also made me realize that I don’t hate winter. Winter would be the one drawback to living in the Upper Peninsula. But I know better now how to handle it. Just don’t drive!

I have a few theories on this affinity. One is that it reminds me of the Lehigh Valley of my youth as far as population and roads and such. I mean before we exploded into a too busy urban area. Another is the natural beauty. I have always been attracted to water, and especially lakes. And these lakes are Great! Finally, maybe I have had a past life up there. I’d like to believe that. Maybe I had a house in Escanaba!

At 71 (tomorrow!), I will most likely never live in the Upper Peninsula. But that’s okay. My memory of this special place will remain with me. I’ve discovered my affinity place too late in life. I hope you find yours while you are still young enough to pursue the dream. I’d love to hear about your special places in the comments. Remember the mnemonic device we learned in elementary school for knowing the Great Lakes? HOMES. Yes, it seems like home to me.