I was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hell, I'm still living in the same house I was born in. It's a weird place. It probably made me what I am.
When I was growing up, all I could think about was how much I wanted to leave.
But then I left. And I realised that there are, indeed, worse places. Sure, there aren't as many Mormons in other places, and the weather might be nicer, but it's really not the same. As weird as this place is, with all of the repression, frustrating politics, gratuitous prejudice, etc, I can still...work better here.
Perhaps it's because I'm a freak no matter where I go. I can't help but be an individual, a shark among the guppies. I'm used to getting stares. But at least, in good ol' Utah, it's a certain kind of stare, a certain of individuality. I understand the people around me, the Mormons, the ex-Mormons, the anti-Mormons, the bewildered transplants.
I'm a better mindfuck here than anywhere else. It truly is a land of opportunity.
Besides, I couldn't live without my precious mountains.