As my time as a full time resident of Minnetonka comes to a close, I try to appreciate the places that have been critical to my memories before I move across the country. It’s just a place, a collection of places, but all the compounded experiences have made almost a living entity. Each time I find myself in places like these I get more and more nostalgic about them. This makes me realize it is not quite about the actual physical location, more about me being a sentimental person. I live in the land of 10,000 lakes. Minnesota is distinct to me, and I will always be grateful for my suburban Midwestern childhood. There’s nothing like walking barefoot home from the beach on the hot concrete, sailing to an island in the middle of the lake for a picnic, tipping the canoe in a large lake miles away from any cabin or person in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

I’m a part of this place because of the hundreds of paintings my grandfather made of every view of the lake I live by. Because of the house my grandparents built the year my mother was born, and the house my parents built the year my older sister was born. Because of the obligatory smile, nod, and “How’s it going?” as you pass people on the bike path or walking on a muggy evening. Because here, climate change is still mild enough that the lakes freeze over enough to ski across in the winter. So, here are some of the spots in Minnetonka that represent significant parts of my upbringing, both boring and beautiful.