The country is where I belong. Yesterday, Scott of UPS messaged me on Facebook that he had delivered a package to me at the old farm but he had read my blog and knew I had moved. Did he want me to deliver it or re-route it? A passing Fedex driver came to the door to tell me the mailbox door was open. Connie called from the bookstore and said she had an author event and wanted to make sure the writer – it was her first book – had a good crowd, so me and Jenna Woginrich and other local people showed up. At the hardware store, Steve said he had driven by and loved the color Maria had chosen for her studio barn.

Here in upstate New York these simple values – community, connection, taking an extra step – are still very much alive. And I remember when the sheep got out and every single neighbor came running to help. The Recycling Station is a much loved if very funky focal point for community – two guys came up to me and joked about their wives pushing them around. I joined in. We were all standing there yakking while our wives were hauling garbage around and putting it in the right bin. The country is where I belong.