You know something funny? And kind of embarrassing? Shortly after I moved to State College from Pittsburgh in 2015, an acquaintance who had already lived here for a while after moving from a big city said something along the lines of, “Life is just easier here.” They said that like it was a good thing.

And I remember Laura of 2015 (aka the version of myself that only felt worthwhile when she was omgsuperbusy and achieving things) hearing thatand thinking, “Why would you want to take the easy way out?!”

I can’t even type that without lol-ing now.

Laura of 2015 was still pretty sure she’d convince her State College townie boyfriend-then-fiancé Justin to move back to Pittsburgh. Back to a city. A place where you could extra achieve! Because if you could fight traffic, live in close proximity to cool stuff (even if you didn’t have a lot of time to enjoy it), exist with a low grade perpetual tightness in your chest, AND still be a girl boss, that was worth more points because it was harder!

That version of me didn’t yet know that a healthy work life balance and napping without guilt were an option. (And turns out no one had even been keeping track of my points?!)

So it feels significant to notice that when I sat down to make a list of the experiences that have felt memorable and worthwhile in State College lately, that list didn’t include a single achievement. It did include a lot of delicious food. And heartwarming experiences with neighbors and students. And trees. And in a season where I’m doing some of the most meaningful work of my life (navigating first time motherhood while working with an awesome team of locals to make the experience of living in this town even better), I’ve also got space for joy and peace and ease. That experience feels so State College.

My first local hike was through a flowering Shingletown. Forest flowers are definitely a part of my falling in love with State College origin story!

Here’s my list of great “latelys”:

• Celebrating Justin’s birthday with brunch on the patio at Flour and Stone. He said, “Do you see how much green is out there if you just look around?!” Shared the Crab Cake Benedict and Steak and Eggs and wanted to rewind and re-eat immediately. The iced rose decaf coffee and cool breeze and sunshine were 10/10. Owner Liz Grove stopped by to chat and mentioned how she wanted to add more and more flowers to the patio every year.

• Trading food intel with a Penn State student. She turned us on to the peanut avocado rolls from Tokyo Sushi & Hibachi and we shared our list of menu favorites for her first India Pavilion experience. (Chicken malabar, garlic naan, baingan bharta, aloo gobi, lamb biryani, papadam with both chutneys, and aloo saag if you’re curious!)

• Seeing fireflies in the trees out of the bedroom window. A reminder to go stand outside for a while!

• Waiting at the red light on Westerly Parkway by State High and watching kids dashing across the crosswalk towards Welch Pool, parents not far behind schlepping all the gear. Another woman walking down the sidewalk towards the entrance with her pool bag. (Remember when I thought Welch was just for kids?) Perfect hot July pool day!

• The peach cake is back at Wegmans.

• Friday morning donuts from Mammy’s via Centre Markets in Pine Grove Mills. Raspberry cream filled!

• A neighbor sending regular text invites to come over and enjoy their pool. (A neighbor I met at this gathering!)

• Sisters? A girl gang? Setting up a lemonade stand on our street. (And State College summer life hack reminder – always keep cash in your car!)

• Backyard tree watching in the hammock. The soundtrack alternates between lawn mowers/weed whackers and birds/breeze moving through the trees.

• And 4th of July fireworks serendipity! Our killer “secret” underpass watch spot was under construction this year. So when we pulled into our driveway on the afternoon of the 4th and our neighbors Tami and Rick happened to be out doing yardwork, we asked where they usually go. Which turned into an invitation to join them on campus because Rick’s got a Penn State parking pass – elite level firework perk! We watched from the hillside off of University Drive, I learned that Tami doesn’t love but tolerates Neil Diamond (important), we zipped in and out without sitting in tons of traffic, and had a fun evening with great neighbors enjoying far better than they have any business being small town fireworks!

Ten years ago, I was confident I’d eventually convince Justin to move back to Pittsburgh. And while I’ll always have a special place in my heart for my hometown, this town “convinced” me to stay just by being itself, without even trying. (Talk about taking the easy way out!) That’s so State College.