As a professional living in the Northern Virginia/Washington DC metro area for the past 10 years, life was good in many ways. For those of you who are familiar with living in that area, there are many things to do and see in addition to delicious places to eat. The employment and cultural opportunities are good and I truly thought I was living. But let’s face it, getting from point A to point B can be stressful. If you have ever driven the Capital Beltway or Rt. 66, you know what I’m talking about.
About 7 years after living the “Good Life” I began to tire of the rat race and commuting an hour morning and night when I worked 14 miles from home! I was in dire need of a break. I began a search for a place where I could get away from it all but not so far that it would require more that a weekend trip. I thought of Virginia Beach, Ocean City, the Shenandoah Mountains, and everything in between. Then a co-worker mentioned a place called Lewes, Delaware. DELAWARE? I thought to myself as I scratched my head, wondering if my co-worker had been having happy hour on his lunch break. What the heck is in Delaware?
I immediately went to my computer and did an Internet search of Lewes, DE and the following weekend I plugged in the address of a local hotel into my GPS and off I went to explore unknown territory. My trip took me through rural areas with nothing but cornfields, soybean fields, and dairy farms and I found myself enjoying the scenery. For a change, I was not experiencing a white-knuckle trip on the beltway. Yet, although my goal was to escape the city, I didn’t think I was ready for the country life. Two and half hours later, I arrived at my destination. At that moment my life changed. I was in a place that immediately felt like “home”. I knew in my heart and mind that I had been called to this magical place called Lewes, DE. The streets were lined with quaint shops that offer everything from A to Z. The people were genuinely friendly, and happy to have me visit their town. I could go on and on about my weekend in what I would call “paradise” , but to make my long story short. I do believe in love at first sight. I have since left the hustle and bustle of the city behind me and moved to “Paradise”. Now my life here is simple and stress-free. I no longer drive on beltways, but on quaint streets and pleasant roads. If you want a taste of Paradise, come to DELAWARE!
