When my generation was stumbling up the corporate ladder in the 1960s and 70s, many of us were transferred from city to city, state to state and sometimes country to country about every two years. Some of us loved the excitement of moving to a new town and meeting new people. A lot of us didn’t. Some felt left out because there was no place they could call “my hometown.”
When I was in the Jaycees in my 20s and 30s I saw young men come in, stay for a while and then they were gone. I’ve been a Rotarian since 1983 and have also seen many good people come and go. Even some of our retirees move away to be closer to the sun or be closer to — or farther from — their kids and grandkids.
I, on the other hand, can honestly call Naperville my hometown. I met a wonderful person from Naperville in 1959 and decided then and there that that’s where I wanted to live forever. I’ve had the good fortune of becoming very involved in the community where I met some great community leaders.
Another wonderful thing about growing roots is having your children live in the same community from birth to college. I was fortunate to raise two fine citizens, of which one is currently raising four of his own across town from where he was born. A big plus also was that I never had a job further than 15 miles from town.
A hometown is not where you’re from; it’s where you want to be more than any other place, near or far. For me Naperville is it. I might even go away for a while from time to time and might even become a legal resident of another state, but my longing will always be Naperville.
A hometown is where you have lifelong friends and know many of the business owners because of their involvement in community service. I take pride in knowing many of the local merchants and business owners, including Casey’s, Dean’s Clothing, Oswald’s Pharmacy, Minuteman Press, Quigley’s Irish Pub, the Lantern, Frankie’s, Attorney Bo, PN and, of course, Officer Friendly.
It just doesn’t get any better.
