5 Things I Love About Living in the Springfield Area

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." -Maya Angelou

We've been living in the Springfield area for over ten years and we really feel at home here. My husband and I love raising our son in the Pioneer Valley. He's lived here longer than anywhere else! We think it's a great spot for families for the reasons mentioned below.

1. Location. We're so close to so much that matters to us. I can access the Mass Pike and get to my family in the Albany, New York area in under two hours and that means my mom and dad can do the same. They love to just come out for an overnight and catch a school performance or game that my son might have. We can take the back roads and visit with hubby's mom in Connecticut and still come home later that day. We've also noticed our home is a good meeting spot for my family from Maine and his cousins from New Hampshire. We are all about gathering together and living here helps with that.

2. Community. My years as a Macaroni Kid Publisher has connected me more than I had ever dreamed of to the towns and people in and around Springfield. I loved hosting events and getting out to meet other families and small business owners. My husband enjoys coaching and we've both gotten to know a lot of families at town concerts, our church and through our son's school. I noticed the sense of community shortly after the tornado hit in 2001 and I immediately offered to help do a fundraiser to help. Now, each time I host one, whether it's collecting pj's to benefit patients at Shriners around Christmas or a bake sale at the children's museum for kids with cancer, people rally together and support one another.

3. Seasons. We get to experience it all living here. My family enjoys hiking at Laughing Brook in Hampden, walking the rail trail path in East Longmeadow, sledding, swimming in the backyard, and watching the leaves change in the Fall. Everything we love about the varied seasons and living in the Northeast is right here in the Springfield area.

4. Medical. I am continually impressed with Baystate Hospital and the team of doctors that I've worked with in the past. I found the hospital itself and the medical offices affiliated with it to be clean, comfortable and to have very knowledgeable staff members. These people have been supportive and a great resource for my family's needs. For us, it's really important to have a good quality local hospital but we do like knowing that for more serious issues, we can get to Boston in about an hour. I'm also proud of the work that Shriners and the Ronald McDonald House do for local families and visitors to this area.

5. Education. We're so happy to have my nephew here in Springfield at Springfield College. It's been fun going to his dorm, meeting his roommate and exploring the campus. Built in "babysitting" is also a plus!

I'd love to hear about where you live! Comment and also join the Sparkle with Kelly Group on Facebook for more connections and discussions.