When people travel on vacation or on business to historical
cities and far off countries they usually only visit landmarks
that are tourist traps. Although these places capture a part of
a history they do not speak for their culture entirely, only of
a certain time and era. To truly learn about a host's people,
language, food, and religion all aspects must be absorbed, not
just the small part the corporations hype up. As a soldier I
have traveled the world. I have embraced and been embraced by
the soul of many countries yet the best place to live by far is
Long Island, New York and not just because it is home.
Indeed we pay the highest taxes and the cost of living is the
steepest. However if you look at Long Island you will see we get
what we pay for. The fine sand and fixed position of the sun on
our beaches make them amongst the finest in the world. Not to
mention some people spend their whole lives without seeing the
ocean while we have easy access to the Atlantic, and the best
fishing, at our disposal. Also at our disposal is the greatest
city in the world. Throughout history world cultures settled in
Manhattan to share gifts of diversity and enlightenment. This is
what colonial settlers envisioned of New York hundreds of years
ago and it stands to reason why our educational institutions are
the best, though just living in New York is an education in
itself. We have quick access to the best mountains for skiing
and hunting just upstate. There are only a few places on God's
earth that can offer the same things. Not one of them can offer
all the varying culture and people at the same time like the way
Long Island does.
At this moment I am sure you are thinking of reasons besides
mine why Long Island is such a great place to reside. It has
been as much an inspiration in my writing as my travels as my
years as a soldier. In my novel, Revision, part of the main
character's personal development comes from his experiences as a
LIer. It is easy to see how living somewhere else after living
here would be a great difficulty.
- Spc. Esposito
