mountain standard time. pick up trucks. horse trailers. dogs run free. tip my hat to the northern rockies and prairie land. to cougars and bears. to whistle pigs, bless their lives—and guts—for the highway toll.

shit, I live in an amazing place. after all my travels so far this summer I always love coming home. there isn’t a place that compares to this state. I am coming out of the closet with my secret admiration of cowboys, ranchers and country music. for years I have loved that aspect of american culture. I even love that James is a genuine Tennessee hillbilly. I think I belong in montana.

big things changed when I caught this side of continental divide. it didn’t catch on for a while, I found myself missing the pacific northwest like crazy. I used to be proud of oregon. I still am. I used to root for oregon. less and less each season. I didn’t even visit portland while I was oregon for a month this time around. I didn’t see the point. besides visiting few very dear frineds, there wasn’t anything there for me. I was pretty surprised to realize it. I used to love visiting portland after I’d left. but what’s in a city? shopping? bars? restaurants? I guess I am just not that interested anymore. too many people, too big, too much traffic. too many people who have no idea what’s outside the city, outside the state. don’t get me wrong, portland is amazing and there’s nothing wrong with living an loving it there. but I know something different now. most of the people I know there never left. some don’t even travel much, or at all. or just don’t get it why I’d want to live far out of reach of the big civilization.

it’s hard to explain to anyone how different life is here. or what it really is that I love so much about it unless you get to experience it first hand. I love every aspect about it. the lack of people, wide open land. lack of rules. the big skies. it’s storms and sunsets. it’s still wild west out here. it’s the best thing I’ve ever found. renegade.

I’ve met a lot of people along the way. it’s made me appreciate James even more. I am incredibly grateful that he loves me. that he loves me so freaking much. can’t wait for my hot stuff to come back. I miss him. he’s the best of the rest.