Anyone who knows me well knows I am a California transplant. If you don’t know me, that might not mean what you think it means.

I’m not a born-and-raised Californian who’s fleeing to Austin, Spokane, Boise, or Bozeman, bringing with me a strong adherence to the very fiscal and social policies that caused me to leave the Sunshine State. Rather, I transplanted myself into California because my genius wife (yes, I’m bragging) has a kick-ass job down here and I can be The Longhair Lawyer from anywhere. These days and for the foreseeable future, my home base is in the San Francisco Bay Area.

It's an interesting place. There is great food of almost every variety. You can find anything you need because there are tens of thousands of retail establishments and service providers. That said, a sprawling metropolitan area – with almost 8 million people – is not the place I belong.

Anyone who knows me well knows I grew up in a rural area. I spent the first 19 years of my life in Ritzville, Washington. When I was in grade school, I felt like a ‘city kid’ because my parents didn’t farm. That ‘city’ had less than 1800 people in it and that ‘city kid’ wound up listening to a lot of country music while driving tractors, serving as the President of his FFA chapter, and helping his parents and their friends put on the local Rodeo every year. While there will always be someone who’s ‘Rednecker’ than me, I am certainly a country boy by Bay Area standards.

On the eve of his twenty-first birthday he set out on his own

He was thirty years and running when he found his way back home

Riding a storm across the mountains and an aching in his heart

Said he came to turn the pages and to make a brand new start

Now he never told a story of the time that he was gone

Some say he was a lawyer, some say he was a John

There was something in the city that he said he couldn't breathe

And there was something in the country that he said he couldn't leave

– Wild Montana Skies, John Denver –

While I love date nights, happy hours, movie outings, and the occasional concert with my wife, day-to-day city livin’ ain’t for me. That’s probably why I jump ship to climb mountains, chase animals, and enjoy all kinds of recreation every chance I get. After being cooped up all winter, I just took my first outing to Eastern Washington of the year for some spring turkey hunting and a quick backpacking trip. As the days get longer and the opportunities for travel grow, my outlook on my big-city home base improves. Distance makes the heart grow fonder. Maybe I am cut out for city living, just not all the time.

In any case, I’m especially excited that – this year – I’m kicking off my summer adventures with a trip back to Ritzville, where I’ll be leading our local alumni banquet as toastmaster, attending my brother’s high school graduation, and celebrating a friend’s marriage. It’s good to be back home again.

Hey, it's good to be back home again

Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend

Yes, and hey, it's good to be back home again

– Back Home Again, John Denver –

Anyone who knows me well also knows I love talking in front of a crowd just about as much as being alone in the woods. I’m honored to serve as the toastmaster for the Lind-Ritzville annual alumni banquet and – if you’re one of those folks that’s debating on attending – I promise I’ll make it worth your while.

– Tyler O’Brien –

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