After moving away from home to complete my undergraduate work, I made a huge discovery about myself. I found myself torn between my love for the rural way of life to which I became accustomed and the bustling excitement of my urban college town. It didn’t make much sense to me, which is when I discovered my second heart, my love for the city.

If you have similar feelings to the ones I mentioned, you, too, might possess two hearts.

1. You love going out for a great cup of coffee.

The baristas steam the milk and add in espresso which makes it just amazing. Nothing beats grabbing a strong cup of coffee crafted in a local coffee shop…

2. ...Except drinking a cup of coffee on a porch.

It might not be the fanciest cup of coffee, but it sure does come with its perks, like a view of the countryside, some family to keep you company, or what I have come to really value these days, silence.

3. It’s nice being where everything is.

You can get donuts at 4:00 AM. Heck, I bet you could get a bowl of pho at 4:00 AM somewhere in Norman if you really wanted it. It’s also nice being a short drive from a Target.

4. But it’s even better being where there’s nothing.

Yeah, I might have to drive to go anywhere and do anything (and I probably would have to do it before dark when everything closes in rural areas), but it is just so nice to be able to go for a walk in the forests or down a quiet country lane.

5. You live for going out on the town.

Your friend calls you up and asks if you want to go eat at somewhere that isn’t a chain or go out for a drink. The evening is going to be fun, and you know it.

6. But you also live for a good bonfire or backroading on country roads.

When you grow up in the country, you have to make your own fun. Bonfires are fun social gatherings where you can just chill around a fire. If you want something a little more intimate, try climbing into a truck with your best friends and finding a back road to explore.

7. The prospect of meeting people is exciting.

I love walking around campus at OU, looking into the faces of strangers and thinking to myself I might be looking at a future best friend and not even realize it. There are so many interesting people to get to know…

8. Although, it’s still great to see someone you’ve always known.

I love going home and catching up on good times with people I have known my whole life. I usually run into them at the grocery store, the post office, or the gas station. No matter where I go back home, I can usually expect to see someone I know there, and the nostalgia coming with it.

9. The city is home to your family away from your family.

AKA all the people you met and have no idea what you would do without them. They aren’t blood-related to you, but they are your family. They would do anything for you, just like any family would.

10. The country is home to your actual family.

I love going home and seeing my parents, sister, grandparents, etc. They are there, and I know they are cheering for me and rooting me on as I’m at school.

11. You can’t wait to get back to the city.

The country is pretty amazing and all, but you really want a donut at 4:00 AM. You would have to wait another two hours and drive somewhere to get that where I’m from.

12. You can’t wait to get back to the country.

The conveniences of the city are wonderful, but it’s difficult trying to find peace and quiet in the busy atmosphere. Sometimes, you just gotta put your cowboy boots on, and go back home. After all, home is where your (first) heart is.