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Nancy Hesting's avatar

Yes, it is paradise here in Michigan. My permanent writing retreat. But let's keep it a secret please.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

That's how I feel and why I've never gone off on a writer's retreat. I don't need to. I live in a quiet, beautiful pre-war neighborhood with magnificent old trees and the view from my study and my den is so peaceful. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Glenn Ingersoll's avatar

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Lev Raphael's avatar

And to you!

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Susan Oleksiw's avatar

I live near my hometown but never go there. That is, for me, another world, one I left behind. I have no friends left there, only classmates I remember fondly and rarely encounter. I've lived in New York State, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and India and now Massachusetts. Yes, leaving home and living elsewhere is crucial for growing into your own person. Thanks for sharing your journey.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

Thanks for reading. Growing up in New York, I couldn't imagine living anywhere else in the world. And then I had two and a half wonderful years in Western MA which wasn't far away in terms of travel, but couldn't have been less like my home. It changed my thinking enormously.

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Ramona Grigg's avatar

I’m a native Michigander and I love my state, but I spent many of my younger years wishing I lived somewhere else. When we moved out of the city and into the boonies I felt like I DID live somewhere else. I like that some parts of Michigan are still hidden treasures, where we can drive the back roads for miles and never pass another car.

A great place for thinking and creating.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

I'm glad that I grew up in New York and could experience its cultural life--and then went to a fairly bucolic area for my MFA, western MA. I haven't been back for museums or theater. For the former there's Chicago, Grand Rapids and Detroit. For the latter, Stratford, which isn't a long drive.

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M.E. Proctor's avatar

We spent a month in Michigan this summer and it was a discovery... yes, a well-kept secret. We're going back though, we're fans now.

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Lev Raphael's avatar

We have friends in Ohio who regularly summer up in Empire. There's so much natural beauty in both peninsulas. Happy Thanksgiving, Martine!

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Liz Gauffreau's avatar

I find it fascinating how place affects each of us writers differently. My productivity increased when I moved back to New England after 20 years in Virginia and Florida. In the novel I'm working on now, Vermont has become an important character.

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Nov 27
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Lev Raphael's avatar

I've become more introverted living with an introvert for 40 years. :-)

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Nov 27
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Lev Raphael's avatar

We didn't know our neighbors well until 25 years ago when we got our first dog. Then we knew dog people, former dog people, future dog people and folks who just wanted to know Kobi, who was a sweet, smart Westie.

My introverted spouse is often more interested in chatting with people on a walk than I am. Go figure!

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