After I graduate next semester, I am achieving my life-long dream of migrating south. The north has been fun, but I fell in love with the South a long time ago.

Several years ago, I went to the beach after I got home from a deployment. My new friends from deployment taught me how to surf. It was such a liberating feeling and I felt like I conquered the world. The ocean has always been my favorite vacation spot, but then I realized I wanted to be able to do that more often and feel the real ocean sand between my toes. The sound of the waves crashing is irreplaceable by any app or technological advancement.

The next reason I love the south is the people. I love feeling appreciated. People in the south are always waving and going out of their way to be kind to each other. Even in fast food joints, like my favorite Bojangles, people have a happier aura than any fast food place in Illinois. Neighbors go out of their way to get to know each other. They are the kind of people who would lend you some sugar if you were trying to bake some cookies.

The third reason is the weather. The milder climate is nicer than Illinois because there is minimal snow. The ice is occasional because it is warmer there. I prefer hurricane season any day over falling on my butt in the snow or ice or seeing people wreck their cars every time it gets bad in Illinois. I love heat and hate cold. Every time I ask someone what the weather is there I can always bet that it is nicer than Illinois and be right most of the time.

The fourth reason is the mountains. The south also has beautiful mountains you can visit, climb and enjoy more than any Midwestern area I have been to. The views are spectacular and the curves are fun to drive and keep you awake. When I was a kid and my dad drove through the mountains, I thought the coolest part was the tunnels. After you climb a mountain and get to the top, it is a great feeling to see your surroundings, as long as you aren't afraid of heights. It is also good exercise.

The south is great because it is more cost effective than Illinois. The gas is always cheaper than here! I am impressed with how cheap the gasoline is. I wish we had cheap gas in Illinois! Many things are cheaper there than they are here. The cost of living is also less, which makes it more appealing to me.

Another reason I love the south is because it is more friendly to gun supporters than Illinois. You don't have to carry around a FOID card to possess a gun. I think shooting is a fun, recreational thing and those skills can come in handy in self-protection cases down the road.

Lastly, I love the class in the south. In the north, certain places have class but overall, people are a lot classier in the south. People dress up more often and have more etiquette than some northern places.

I am ready to move south this fall because it has more to offer for me and to help me enjoy my life. I can already picture what my life will look like six months down the road for me and I am finally able to let go and have my dreams come true.