I'm from a small town. The type of town where everybody knows everybody, you have to drive at least 2 hours to get to the nearest mall, and a "significant event" was when we upgraded from a normal Wal-Mart…to a super Wal-Mart. When I was moving away for college, I was sure that I would be fine…that my hometown would become a distant memory and the only thing about it that I would miss, were my best friends from high school and my family.

Plot twist: I was wrong. There are certain things about my hometown that were far more near and dear to my heart than I ever would have imagined. Some of them are things that I don't think I will ever be able to let go of, no matter where I end up…I guess that's kind of what is special about the place that you grow up. So here's a small list, of the things that make me homesick while simultaneously giving me that warm and comfortable feeling every time I get to come home for a visit.

1. The Quirky Coffee Shops

My particular hometown does not have much in the way of fancy restaurants, food trucks, bars, etc. But let me tell ya, we know how to make a cup of coffee. There are several local places that are quirky and fun, but my personal favorite honestly just feels like a cup of home. It's a meeting spot for old friends, a place where memories were made, and a "must-visit" (50+ times) whenever I get to go home.

2. The Sunsets

Don't ever let anyone tell you that small town Elko, NV doesn't have anything going for it. If there is one thing that we kick butt at, it's the sunsets over the Ruby Mountains, and I found myself missing those breathtaking views pretty often when I was away.

3. The Scenery

A.k.a. Lamoille Canyon and the beauty that it blesses us with in all months of the year. It's one of the most beautiful and diverse places I have ever seen, and it was right in my backyard. Honestly, I think it really took moving away to understand how amazing it is.

4. The Love of Swing Dancing

I have tried my darndest to spread swing dancing and a love of country music to my college town, but there is something unique about the swing dances that our whole town attends where everyone knows the words to every song, the dance floor is always full, and people are constantly dancing that I've come to miss.

5. The City/Family Relationship

When you're from a small-town, you quickly learn that everything knows everything about everyone. Sometimes this can be a bad thing, but it can also be an amazing thing. When a sad/scary/emotional/inspiring event happens in Elko, the whole town is there to back it up, to fix it, and support it. It's a unique thing and an amazing thing, and I'm confident that I wouldn't find that type of family in every place that I live in.

6. The Feeling

This is probably what I miss the most. Now that I have been away from my hometown for a while, I've come to miss the feeling that I had there before I ever even left. I've been hit with a sense of nostalgia for the life that I lived and the thought that it will never be that way again. I've changed, the town has changed, and as happy as I am with my new direction and my new life, there are definitely days when I find myself yearning for memories that I made in my small-town.

I will always thank my hometown for the memories and for all of the things that make it worth coming back to.