Location, Location, Location (Patricia Potter)

I haven’t been able to concentrate much on today’s blog. I’ve been far too concerned about Hurricane Ike.

I’m not in harm’s way, but I have many friends in the Houston area, and I love Galveston Island. Its history has always fascinated me, and I first fell in love with it when I discovered it was home to Pirate Jean Lafitte, hero of the Battle of New Orleans. Its subsequent tragic history, mainly the 1900 hurricane which took 6,000 lives, has haunted me. I’ve always thought, though, that it would be a place I would like to live. Galveston has a small town village atmosphere and a history greatly appeals to me. I’m quickly losing that thought.

We still have people from Hurricane Katrina here in Memphis. They came, and many stayed. I ran into someone a few days ago. He and his family left New Orleans because of the Gustav scare. He said he wasn’t going back this time. He's just finished rebuilding from Katrina a month earlier. He loved New Orleans, but he couldn’t live in fear any longer.

As of now, I don’t know the complete damage to Galveston, but from the television coverage late Friday night, it looks as if the entire island will be flooded. How many will go back and rebuild? How many will say they can’t go through this again?

Galveston is beautiful. As is New Orleans. I love both places but I don’t think I would choose to live in or around them, despite the their attractions. As I said before, I’m a pack rat and animal owner. I’m not sure I could risk losing my treasures (or having them threatened) or live with the prospect of traveling seventeen hours – or more -- with three restless dogs in the car every time a hurricane nears.

So I’ll probably stay here in Memphis, far from the ocean. Far from hurricanes and floods and fires and mudslides, etc. But we do have our own threat. Memphis sits on a major earthquake fault and everyone here has earthquake insurance. Haven’t had one in more than a hundred and fifty years, but experts say we’re due.

And other locations? Kansas has tornadoes. Minnesota has snow and ice storms. The northeast, well, taxes.

I’ve always thought I would be happy wherever I lived. I find great places in every city and hamlet. I like small towns because of the sense of community. I like big cities because of the cultural, entertainment and culinary offerings.

Family brought me to Memphis, but I often think that I would love to retire in some beautiful, exotic spot. Desert or ocean or mountains. Destinations change according to mood. I love to daydream, but then I hear of a hurricane, or fire or flood. I settle down in my big recliner or in front of my computer and am grateful for relative safety. Memphis looks better all the time.

So where do you live, and how did you get there? Did you grow up there? Job? Family? Do you intend to move in the future and, if so, where? And would you trade annual uncertainty for life on a beach?