I was raised on a bay about 10 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean, in a town of 6,000, and early on understood much about the impact of man and pollution, and the need to protect and preserve our shared environment. I could go into a long discourse about what sunk in and why, but I can more easily state what in me is different than most, and what I want from life, and to give back to the world in which I live.

I'm 48 and in great health, but life in suburban and urban sprawl is just not my cup of tea. I have fought against rich and powerful interests and have suffered for it at times. Sadly honor and doing right is not rewarded as it should be, and covert corruption is more an accepted norm than decent folk would like. I found out the real extent of it while fighting for positive changes against the local School Board and city. Jacksonville is a developer's town, and working class areas are let with a minimum of police and rescue services while rich areas are groomed, and monies for parks and infrastructure and schools are tight here while the affluent get the lion's share.

There is also a level of stupidity in how we apply ourselves as a society that is infuriating to me. Common sense is not common, and I was recently told by my mother that instead of making fecal matter smell like roses why not go to where the roses still bloom. It makes sense, and I am tired of fighting against the machine and being a victim for doing so. I have been targeted, and despite my more stupid mistakes of youth, should be doing better than I am and would be in a better environment.

I intend to move once some litigation has concluded. I am looking at several places where I would be insulated enough to do well, and they are the North Carolina Coast, just North of Kitty Hawk, the DelMarVa Pinnsulia, just South of Salisbury, near the Virginia/Maryland line, possibly Connecticut near Rhode Island, Washington State on Puget Sound, or The Falklands. The three most desired are Washington State, Carolina, and the Falkland Islands. If I had the money and means I'd be gone already, and there are aspects to life I want to rebuild or build, and a manner in which I want to live. I can't do them here.

First, I want to grow much of my own food and raise chickens for eggs and meat on a scale that earns a decent percentage of my income. I have five chickens now, and have maintained a garden, although this year I have been slack. I even ran a school garden project that was my idea, and it did well.

Next, as a painter with other tallents and experience I would work doing that to a great deal, as being stock and trade, and good at it, it is a living, and I like doing quality work.

Then maybe building and running a small minature golf set up. I like the idea of creating and running a place families and people can come to enjoy themselves as a family.

Finally, there is working where my heart is, which is making the world a better place instead of simply taking from it. In Carolina, or Delmarva, that would mean working on protection of the waterways and working to insure proper recycling is done, well, I guess that would be anywhere. In Washington State it would be forrest protection, and Connecticut would be "green" infrastructure and recycling, and naturally protecting Long Island Sound.

But I turn my attention now to the Falklands. It is the only place on my list I have not actually been except in spirit. The whole of the nation has half the population of the small town in which I grew up, and they have pristine waters and lands, and are thinking "green" already. I do have Altantic waters running through my veins. There I could find a niche or two to fill where my experience would be a great asset. I would like to have a simple place to call home, build a greenhouse in which to grow veggies and raise chickens for eggs and meat, work painting and doing handyman work as it is needed, maybe even open and run that minature golf there, bringing family recreation where there is not so much, which once built could be run by my wife and catch the seasonal ecotourist crowds. Lastly, I would love to work planting trees, work in recycling, and building a wind based energy system.

I would have my beloved Atlantic, and not have to worry about many of the things that I have fought for years and suffered for.

The Falklands seem quite English, which is fine, but to bring an American experience to their perspective might be something that is enriching for all. I have seen and lived where things have grown too fast and mistakes have run unchecked, and worked on solutions in places where I might be able to share what I know with enlightened people who care about avoiding the mistakes I have seen.

I have a son I want a better life for, and think he could thrive there as well.

It comes down to lifestyle. I honestly believe I and my family would fit in, if not, would never even consider such a drastic move.