My hometown is Clinton, NJ. It's a quiet part of New Jersey, deemed the 'secret NJ' by many, in a rare part of the state where there are rolling hills and grass. Unknown to many, I consider it to be one of the few towns that validates the Garden State nickname. Since I moved to Florida and started going to college in North Carolina, I don't get to visit very often. As much as I love my new town and college, this time away has opened my eyes to how much I missed it while I was gone. Here are a few of the reasons as to why my hometown is and always will be my home.

1. The landscape

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The rolling hills are a staple in Hunterdon County, but you have to be extra cautious when driving because they can make you nauseous.

2. Vehicles

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In New Jersey, it's not unusual to be stuck behind a tractor on some small country lane, while it's way more common for an impatient Tesla driver to roar past you in Florida.

3. Houses

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This one may be obvious, but people have very different decorating tastes in Florida and New Jersey. For example, you might find a completely modern house in Florida with a manatee mailbox, but you will find a small stone farmhouse with a tractor mailbox. I think you can guess how much we love our tractors.

4. Weather

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As one might imagine, we get all four seasons in New Jersey, quite extremely. This usually sends people down to Florida to become 'snowbirds' and escape the winter, but I prefer the snow days over the hurricane days.

5. Roads

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I might see a road sign (pictured above) to symbolize a twisty road in New Jersey, but I also might see an alligator or panther crossing sign in Florida.

6. Types of towns

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My hometown is a quaint little town comprised of about four main streets where I used to walk around for hours with friends after school. My new town only has strip malls to walk around, lacking the feel of a cohesive community to me.

7. The people

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I believe it would be a cliche if I said that it was a perfect place where I waved to everyone with a smile on my face, greeting everyone by name. Instead, I'll say the truth which is that I don't know most of the people who live in my town. But, it was nice to just recognize people from seeing them around town and that's something that I miss about home.

No matter where I live, I think that Clinton, NJ will always have a special place in my heart. To me, cities have nothing on that small town feel.