Why I Love the South

Since the day I made my first trip to the southern United States I have been in love with the south. Of course the perpetual mild to hot climate is one of the main reasons but there are so many more that keep me coming back year after year. In fact during my working career I often hoped for a possible transfer to the Carolina’s or Georgia but alas it never materialized. The closest I got was to Green Bay Wisconsin, another place I love, but for the climate it could have fulfilled my wishes. The pace of life in the south seemed to be much more in line with the “quality of life” everyone is always looking for. Don’t get me wrong, things got done efficiently but the human factor was always considered in the equation, not like so many of the northern cultures. Most all of the people I met possessed strong family values which, were apparent in both the way they conducted business and the way they enjoyed their personal time. What also impressed me immensely was the personal knowledge about their history that was readily related whenever the opportunity presented itself. Whenever you hear the pundits talk about traditional American families I would venture a guess that the majority will be found in the south and Midwest as opposed to the large populous cities in the North. The people I interacted with seemed to always have a sense of their roots and a quiet pride that was rarely bombastic but rather imbedded deeply in their personalities. Since I have retired I have managed to retain a friendship with many of the southern folks I had worked closely with over the past decades. These are relationships that I cherish deeply and although I don’t often see these people I still count them as some of my best friends. The political interpretation aside I respect their conservative values that are built around their heritage and their families. These are not raving right wing religious fanatics as some in the northern media would have you believe, no these are the core and the heart of the American way of life. I would wager that if their values were adopted in more areas of the north the USA would benefit tenfold in every aspect of life. As I said I love this southern landscape and I have a tremendous respect for their history and their overall way of life. I hope to be able to spend much more time in Dixie over the next several years. I just wish they could golf a little better.