As a result, he'll often know of "parallel" routes -- or sometimes, routes that are actually more direct than the Interstate. In exchange perhaps for a bit of time and a few stops signs, lights, and towns, he'll take a route that is ten times as scenic.

If you've never seen Iowa in the fall in afternoon sunlight, you don't know what you're missing.

Or winter, for that matter, with the whites, browns, and infinite blue sky. Spring, with the new growth dusting black soil with green. Summer in its extravagance of growth.

Sit down at the counter of a local diner, next to a farmer. You may not agree with all his opinions, but you'll find someone at least as informed and mindful of the news as any urbanite you're likely to meet.

Small town life can sometimes be stifling, socially. And in the midwest, it's been significantly hollowed out particularly of youth, by ongoing socio-economic changes.

But if you're looking, and if you're not -- socially -- stuck there indefinitely, it's not necessarily "boring".

Cities are largely the same wherever you go - London, Chicago, Sydney - they are all big towers, shops, bars, metro, money flowing around, and so on. It's when you get out into the country that you get a real flavour of a place.

Now, try southern Indiana, around Nashville and Bloomington. It's like a small slice of California, with the rolling hills, pine trees, scenic routes, huge lakes, and awesome liberal atmosphere (home of IU).

I'm so glad I'm here, and not elsewhere in Indiana.