<a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/lovelist.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-526" title="lovelist" src="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/lovelist-538x403.jpg" alt="" width="538" height="403" /></a>

<strong>I arrived, kicking and screaming, in this cornfield-framed town in the summer of 2001.</strong>

Actually, by the time I arrived and settled my two small girls into a new home and life, I had already done all the kicking and screaming and resisting there was to do, back in Michigan. By then, I felt resigned and slightly hopeful. We moved for my husband's exciting new teaching position at the university, and I thought maybe something unexpected and good would be here for me, too.

Within two years, not only had nothing good emerged, but our divorce proceedings had begun. It was hard to not see this place as inherently tainted.

Fast -forward six years, though, and I couldn't be happier with where I live. Sure, some minor things have changed about my town—some of our favorite restaurants, bars and shops have opened up since I moved here—but essentially, the town hasn't changed. My perspective has. I stopped feeling like I was stuck here against my will and started actively embracing why I would actually<em> choose</em> to be here. <strong>I stopped thinking only about geography—where I was on the map—and started to focus on benefits—how the features of this place translate to real benefits in my life.</strong>
<h4>The connection between community and living the life I love</h4>
<strong>It wasn't surprised to discover, as I started keeping a <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=472">Love List</a>, that many of the items on my list are directly tied to the type of town and neighborhood I live in.</strong> The town is Midwestern, affordable, and easy to get around in, yet it's full of diversity, culture and interesting people. My neighborhood is within walking distance of a downtown business district, where the food co-op, farmers' market, French bakery, library and co-working space are located, yet we can easily drive to Chicago when we're craving a bigger city.

Here's a glimpse at how those features translate to my Love List: "<span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5594467519" class="msgtxt en">just did a bit of shopping, locally &amp; leisurely. small independent stores for gifts &amp; staples are the best," and "</span></span><span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5471735687" class="msgtxt en">it's so good to have a home I love coming home to after being away—a place that defines contentment," and "I love living in a neighborhood where people who know my kids are looking out for them as they walk to school."
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A tweet I wrote earlier this week probably sums it up best:<span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5594467519" class="msgtxt en"> </span></span> <strong>"</strong><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><strong>Champaign-Urbana is considered a leading example of micro-urbanism, and I am SO glad to be living, working &amp; raising my kids here."</strong> (</span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"><a href="http://www.micro-urbanist.com/">Micro-urban</a> is generally defined a town of less than 250,000 that possess a highly uncommon set of desirable attributes normally found only in big cities.)</span></span>

<span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5594467519" class="msgtxt en"><strong>What do you want your life to look like? How does <em>where</em> you live affect <em>how</em> you live? If you're not happy with that equation, what can you do about it?</strong>
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<h4><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">Now some of our recent additions to the <a href="http://www.halfwaytonormal.com/?p=472">Love List Project</a>:</span></span></h4>
<em>(If you're on Twitter, please remember the hashtag is now #thelovelist! I don't want to miss some of your Love List items because of the confusion about the tag!)</em>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@remtobreathe <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5438095573" class="msgtxt en">Ignoring the chaos and just enjoying my family life ... and recognising just how entertaining our brand of chaos can be</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@MoJoJules <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5477618011" class="msgtxt en">So tomorrow I am doing a goal of sorts I said I would do as I started life over.All due to a new friend.Loving it.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@jenluit <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5478529439" class="msgtxt en">Kids out of school today. Guy coming to install new floor. Kitchen exploded. On the other other hand, love having them here.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@c_w_s <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5497838494" class="msgtxt en">meeting someone new &amp; finding a kindred spirit? serious #thelovelist</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@lje2me being home.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@kt_writes <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5541208923" class="msgtxt en">late-afternoon autumn sun slanting over the rocking chairs on the front porch.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@remtobreathe <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5471971322" class="msgtxt en">The kids are all eating broad beans fresh out of the pod ... love my vege garden</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@McMer314 <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5514621532" class="msgtxt en">I love that I still get excited over the little things, like a new book from the library or the leaves changing color.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@MoJoJules <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5526214777" class="msgtxt en">buster is lovingly laying on my foot. I don't want to shift to laying down cuz its such a sweet moment. I love him.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@kt_writes <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5575312916" class="msgtxt en">I love watching my kids talk on the phone to my parents as much as I love listening to them.</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@TrinaMb <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5575554372" class="msgtxt en">Reading about others happiness makes me smile. </span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@mrschicken <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5590394986" class="msgtxt en">Filthy house, no shower, first cuppa joe not drunk yet .... but I got me one sweet Babyman to spend time with... </span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">@kt_writes <span class="status-body"><span id="msgtxt5634231875" class="msgtxt en">J is several states away, but we just enjoyed happy hour together, via phone, sharing bits about our day &amp; generally unwinding.</span></span></p>
<strong>What's on your Love List? If you're not on Twitter, feel free to share with the rest of us here!</strong>