I love West Virginia

Eight years ago, West Virginia was the state I feared most. It was the one state that I had an imaginary image of--banjos, isolation, and no teeth. When I found out I was going to be transferred there for a job, it was either move or starve to death on unemployment. I didn't know which option scared me more. Eventually, the fear of starvation outweighed Deliverance so I begrudgingly packed my bags and moved.

AND I'M SO GLAD I DID!

That was 8 years ago and at present day, you'll have to pry this state from my dead, cold hands. The people are incredible. They are welcoming and have the right amount of roughness to appreciate hard work and calloused hands. They have an intense pride for their heritage, their family, and the land they live on. They greet you, welcome you, remember you. Some of the best hugs I've ever received have been from the hardest people. Most are gentle mountain folk who wear tie dye and WV pride clothing. They wear thick soled boots or Crocs--there seems to be no other option. They will do anything for you so long as you maintain courtesy.

When you look across the vast Appalachias, the mountains sing the song of their people. I feel safe in the hills. They speak to me in a way no landscape ever has. They tell me they are old. They humble me as I drive between the hollers and valleys within them. They tuck me in with their steepness and have taught me a language that only my heart can understand. I feel as though I'm welcomed to step on every blade of grass, to touch every tree, to immerse myself in the scent of every river system. There is an old legend that the Appalachias are haunted. They aren't haunted, they're alive! People feel it when they come here. It's unique and palpable. The people who are supposed to be here are claimed by the mountains. They feel at home and peaceful. Those who are poison are driven out by a haunting terror. You'll know very quickly whether or not you've been chosen by the land.

The music is phenomenal. It's old, it's new, it's diverse. Punk, Bluegrass, folk, EDM, pop, it's all here.

The moonshine is unbelievable. It's delightful, leaving you with only taste of fruit. But you are humbled quickly if you disrespect her. Treat her well and she'll return the favor.

The outdoor sports are INCREDIBLE. White water rafting, boating, kayaking, rock climbing, ziplining, skiing, camping, spring festivals honoring the reclamation of water systems once ravished by mining operations... All of these activities celebrating and appreciating the beauty that the land provides to us.

Never be afraid of somewhere new. You may just find home there.