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Last week, I visited the big city. Entering the suburbs, weaving in and out of heavy traffic in the spider web of interchanges and exit ramps, I was grateful that I didn’t do that every day. The thing is, I did do that every day. For eighteen years.

Here’s my story:

I was born in Hastings and lived in the same house until high school graduation. I spent a year as an exchange student in Germany. Then I moved to the heart of the Twin Cities, and for eighteen solid years, I was a city dweller. (Well, except for the two summers I lived in a tent. But that’s another story.) In the summer of 2008, I moved back to my hometown of Hastings.

It’s difficult for me to express how happy I am here. In Minneapolis last weekend, I met up with three friends at our favorite wine bar. As we caught up on each other’s lives, Liz asked me, “are you happy?” No hesitation. “Yes, I am,” I said, with a goofy, uncontrollable smile on my face. They all laughed. It was clear that what I said was true. By dessert, we were scheming ways that they could all set up their lives and families in Hastings.

Living in Minneapolis, I was doing lots of things I loved, and I was not unhappy. My life was full of opportunities for culture, music, outdoor activities, and good times with friends & family. I did rewarding work in vibrant professional networks. I had my choice of literally hundreds of restaurants, theaters, parks, events, museums, and shops.

Even so, I tended to stick to what I knew. It took forever to get anywhere outside of my neighborhood, parking could be ridiculous, and everything seemed to cost too much. Worst of all, I had to drive over an hour to escape the noise & people. Don’t get me wrong – I like people. And I love the diverse personal encounters that occur in metropolitan areas. I just felt overwhelmed by the sheer density of the city and everything in it. That caused an undercurrent of stress that seemed to pervade everything I did. That’s hard to escape.

After moving here, I rediscovered many things I had missed out on for years because of lack of time and money. I’ve reconnected with friends I knew as a kid and formed strong new friendships. I bought a wonderful house for a fraction of big city real estate prices. I have a great job that allows collaboration and creativity. I can easily walk or bike almost anywhere in town. I’m as busy here as I was in Minneapolis, but I don’t waste energy trying to block out the overwhelming elements of noise and speed.

Life in Hastings is not effortless or uncomplicated. Life is rarely like that. But I do find myself paying better attention. In Hastings, I’m more aware of the way I interact with the world because chances are I’ll encounter someone familiar wherever I go. I hope that what I put out there is positive. In a small community, it’s easier to gauge whether I’m staying true to that idea.

I’ve been lucky in life and have traveled around North America and Europe. I have lasting connections with people all over the world in all kinds of communities. I’ve considered moving to the East Coast, the Rocky Mountains, even Sweden. And here I am, in Hastings. This town has become a place where I see my chance to be happy and even make a small difference in the world.

My life is full of opportunities for culture, music, outdoor activities, and good times with friends & family. I do rewarding work in vibrant professional networks. I have my choice of restaurants, theaters, parks, events, museums, and shops. I can always get a big city fix now and then. But for my home, I’m happy here.

About the author: Amy Sandeen

Amy Sandeen is the Executive Director of Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning. Amy grew up in Hastings, then lived in Minneapolis/ St. Paul for 18 years before returning to her roots. She is fascinated by the nature of humans and our relationship to the world.