Having just returned to the Heartland from the Subtropical environment of South Florida, I am once again inclined to consider where we live. The same would occur if I had come back from other areas with unique or spectacular landscapes, most of which lie along the Coasts of the U.S. or throughout the mountain corridors.
But there is something to be said for living in the middle of the country. Within a day's drive, we can visit the Great Lakes, the Rockies, the Appalachians or the Gulf Coast; those who live in the more "exotic" corners of America are far removed from most other landscapes.
Naturalists know that we could spend a lifetime just learning about the life forms that inhabit or visit our own backyard. Yet, we yearn to explore other ecosystems and the American Heartland offers more natural diversity than most residents realize; at least for now, we enjoy four distinct seasons, each of which bestows its special gifts. I'll continue to travel to and through the varied landscapes of America but I choose to live in the middle.
