Home

Before the snow and ice moved through the midlands of South Carolina last Monday our family had started a new morning routine. Tricia and I were rolling out of bed at 5:25 each morning, heading upstairs to get the kids out of bed, and bringing them back down to exercise with us. Tricia and Ainsley made their way into the sunroom to do Pilates while Muluken, Harper, Ty, and I  bundled up for a run around the neighborhood.

It was dark. And cold. And early. But still the kids popped right out of their beds excited to join us. Starting with just a short one mile jog, we laughed and chatted to pass the time. Muluken and I counted the number of houses that had someone awake. Ty alternated between buzzing ahead of us and then falling behind. Harper lifted her gaze to enjoy the brilliant glow of Venus. We all made plans for extending our runs to a mile-and-a-half or even two miles.

I kept expecting the kids' excitement to peter out. I knew from my own experiences with running, cycling, and swimming that everyone eventually hits a brick wall. It's at this point that you either give up or push through it and make exercising a normal part of your day. It becomes an important part of who you are.

However, that wall is hard to push through. Early on there are many mornings, or evenings, when it'd be easier to stay in bed or watch TV or do absolutely nothing. That's why I kept expecting the kids to ask if they "had" to go. But they didn't. Rather, each night they asked if we were excercising in the morning as though they were afraid we wouldn't. They applauded and cheered when told we would be getting up.

It's only been a week so I know the moment of truth is coming at some point. This past week we haven't been able to get out for a run because of all the snow and ice covering the streets and sidewalks. Going stir crazy, we've been driving over to the YMCA for a run around the indoor track and a swim in the pool. Harper and Muluken even joined me in the lap lanes for about thirty minutes of lap swimming. Expecting them to just splash around and play, I was very impressed.

I realize we're really lucky to have the YMCA literally right around the corner from our house. We're lucky, too, to live in a place where frigid temperatures and snow accumulation is very rare. We can get outside pretty much year 'round - often times in shorts or t-shirts. Our friends Betsy and Mike moved to International Falls, Minnesota a few years ago. Located near the US/Canada border, it is crazy cold there. Temperatures drop well below zero for weeks at a time and their kids can't stay out more than fifteen minutes at a time for fear of getting frostbite. Their town is also very remote so there are no indoor tracks or swimming pools. It makes me wonder how people in areas such as these get any exercise. Their reality is far beyond snow shovels or snow shoes. Everyone has a snow blower and most have a snowmobile. I can only imagine the amount of time spent watching television or playing video games in places such as this must be far above the national average -which is embarrassingly high  itself.

I find more and more that where you live is really important. We moved here from the Midwest because we wanted warmer temperatures and shorter trips to the ocean. Once here, we found that we love the mountains too. And the forests. And, especially, the trees. Like so many other parts of our new home in South Carolina, they have become a part of who we are.

We're making another move in the coming months. But not so far this time. We've found seven heavily wooded acres that we love in a nearby town. It backs up to a small fifteen acre lake where the kids can swim and splash and kayak. There are trees to climb. Trails to clear. Footbridges to build. Animals to watch.

It was tempting to stay where we are, in suburbia. Our house will be paid off in another fifteen years and our budget is much more forgiving than in years past. We are close to the grocery store and restaurants. Our drives into school each day are less than fifteen minutes. We have a neighborhood pool that becomes our second home in the summertime. But in the end none of those reasons were enough. It is important where you live. We're fortunate enough to be in a position where we can be choosy and seek out a home that matches our interests and lifestyle.

I envision many hours spent outside. We're building a screened porch in the back to escape the spring rains. We'll enjoy the shade of tall trees in summer and then watch their colors change in fall.

And winter, we'll take it as it comes. Hopefully, though, it will still find us waking early each morning for a chilly predawn run. This time through the country.