These are a few of my favorite things.

I could not resist the Sound of Music reference. We spent a week in Vermont recently at the Trapp Family Lodge, courtesy of my Aunt Helen and Uncle Jack, so the title seems apropos. We found Vermont to be pastoral and refreshing, with a relaxed easy pace and good quality of life. Kind of like Uruguay, except with bigger mountains and a brutal winter. We are a month away from our move. Between boxing things up and fretting about details, I am day dreaming about Uruguay. Here are few things I am looking forward to.

1. The night sky in the country.
When you turn off the lights, the night is black and the stars brilliant. Just like in Pennsylvania when I was a kid.

2. Quiet nights.
No car alarms, no neighbor's music. Just crickets. Oh, and the bats in the eaves of the house...but that's another blog post.

3. Learning Spanish.
Total immersion.

4. Taking visiting friends and family to the Mercado del Puerto.
In Anthony Bordain's words, a "glorious, joyous, miasma of meatness".

5. Exploring Uruguay and other countries in South America.
In addition to exploring the coast and interior of Uruguay, here are a few places on our must see list: Machu Picchu, Florianopolis, Iguazo Falls, Tierra del Fuego, Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Patagonia, the Amazon, the Bolivian Altiplano and Lake Titicaca, Santiago...

6. Gardening.
We'll see if I really do have the family green thumb.

7. Fresh unadultered food.
The Slow Food movement is quite at home in Uruguay.

8.Beautiful beaches.
The most isolated.
The trendiest.

9. Not having to be anywhere.
Nuff said.

10. Watching the horses from our front porch.
See number 9.

11. Keeping chickens.
See number 7.

12. Meeting new friends.