If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you’ll probably know that I was raised as a desert dweller. I lived in the dry landscapes of the southwestern United States in Tucson, Arizona.
Arizona is a state unlike any other. The environment, particularly the Sonoran desert, can’t be found anywhere else in the United States. It’s still fairly unpopulated, with only two major cities, but quickly growing. When I lived there, I couldn’t wait to get out. There wasn’t really anything there for me, besides my family and friends. But now that I’ve moved away and have lived in many other places since then, I can’t help but feel nostalgic for the place that I lived for around 8 years.
I miss the desert, and the gigantic saguaros that can be found throughout the southern parts of the state. I even missed them so much that I bought and shipped a baby saguaro as a plant to keep with me.
I miss the night sky. On a bad night in the outskirts of Tucson, you can see the major constellations, planets and a few other celestial objects. On a good night, you can see the entire Milky Way! It’s just an endless void full of stars and planets, all visible to the naked eye. And if you have a telescope? It’s incredible!
I miss the sun. I swear, it feels differently there. It’s much more direct – you can just feel your skin absorbing the sun’s rays and some glorious vitamin D. Of course, there is such thing as too much sun and it is deadly in the summertime, but I’ll never forget walking out of the freezing classrooms in college and taking a moment to bask in the sun and warm my face and body.
The smell of the desert after it rains. It just smells incredible. The mesquite trees, when wet, give off this specific smell that’s impossible to describe but very distinct in my mind. I love sitting outside during a monsoon storm in the summer and simply enjoying the rain drenching the desert.
The mountains. I grew up around mountains and have always loved them. They’re a source of relaxation for me – from the greenery, to the old trees, to the smell of the forest. Hiking, picnicking, backpacking, camping. The way they turn purple during sunrise or sunset. There’s no mountains in Florida and I miss them deeply.
And finally, it wouldn’t be complete without saying my family and friends. They are my everything and my true sanctuary and I miss them more than everything on this list combined.
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Thank you for reading! What do you miss about your hometown, if you’ve moved away, or what do you love about it if you still live there? Let me know in the comments below and like this post if you want more like it!
Xoxo’s
Emmalee
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Emmalee Mauldin 
Great Post! I once spent time in the Desert of New Mexico. There, it was flat, and one could see the lights of a big city literally fifty miles away…or so it seemed. I can relate to your sentiments. Growing up in rural Wisconsin, I counted the days until I left it behind. Once away, besides family and friends I longed for the characteristics of the landscape, like being so close to large bodies of water. I guess it is what they say: you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.
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