dream vacation
A long time ago, as a teenager, I dreamed about a place called Ottoville. It was a small town and everyone was happy and friendly, and I felt a calm peacefulness while I was there. The next day, as I signed our church guest book, I covertly wrote “Ottoville” as my town of residence.
Years later, I remembered my dream and googled Ottoville.
It exists: in Ohio and Illinois. But I’m drawn to the Ohio Ottoville, a village of less than 900 people and a good hour from a town that would have a Target or large-scale grocery store.
Every few years, a little bubble floats up from my subconscious to pop open during periods of stress: Ottoville.
For some crazy reason, I want to travel there someday.
What place do you dream of visiting?
P.S. This is not related to anything, but a few days ago while trimming the infamous seashell bushes, what did I find? A full-sized harmonica.
Now, I would have expected you to find a baseball or tennis ball or something. A harmonica? Hmmm….
I really want to go to Savannah, GA and Istanbul, Turkey. Oh, how I want to…
Comment by Artemisia — July 11, 2008 @ 1:27 pm
Ottoville – that’s so CUTE!
I’d love to visit Astoria, Washington. It’s the small coastal town in The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, and a few others. It’s the closest thing to a Town Crush that I have.
Comment by Whimsy — July 11, 2008 @ 1:31 pm
Hey, you know that harmonica thing? THAT’S THE KIND OF THING YOU COULD TWITTER. I’m just sayin.
I’ve always wanted to go to Gloucester, MA, and have a beer at the Crows Nest like on The Perfect Storm.
Comment by Tessie — July 11, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
Tessie,
I am never going to Twitter. Mainly out of spite.
Comment by Shauna — July 11, 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Okay, now you HAVE GOT TO put a little surveillance camera there. Think of it as research of surveillance techniques for your book. There will be surveillance involved at some level somewhere in the storyline? Or not?
There are SO MANY places I would like to go. I once read about a town in Alaska that has an entire INDOOR town for that part of the year when it is always dark. It’s open 24/7 and everyone hangs out there. It has a playground, hair salon, restaurants, shops… Oh wait, that’s just a mall. Nevermind. I want to go to New Zealand.
Comment by Fiona Picklebottom — July 11, 2008 @ 2:00 pm
It would probably be easier to list the places I do NOT want to go. I love to travel. Right now Greece is topping the list, though.
Comment by nonsoccermom — July 11, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
I have very pleasant memories of coastal california towns like Carmel, Santa Cruz, etc. Odds are they’ve changed in the 20 years since I’ve been, but anywhere with an artsy, coastal vibe, is the place for me. Oh, and Napa, California. Nothing like it. Those are my “happy places.”
Comment by Flibberty — July 11, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
“I am never going to Twitter. Mainly out of spite.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I’m glad someone else isn’t on the bandwagon, because I was going to feel so lame. I don’t even have a text messaging plan. I’m stuck in the 90s!!
Also, harmonica in the bushes??? That is bizarre. You need one of those motion activated trail cameras. Fo sho.
Small towns….I grew up in one, but it wasn’t touristy and was therefore kind of lame (although it was a really great place to grow up, I see in retrospect). I would love to visit Astoria from the Goonies though. I love the Goonies.
God my comment is long. I am sorry. I hate work today (everyday?) and am procrastinating.
Comment by Becky — July 11, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
I want to go to Australia and New Zealand. I know, not really the same as a tiny midwestern town. But STILL.
Comment by Jess — July 11, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
The place I want to visit doesn’t exist in real life — Elmo, Alaska — it’s the small town in the no-longer-on-TV show “Men In Trees.” If I had to pick someplace legit, it would be Savannah, GA.
Comment by Julie — July 11, 2008 @ 2:20 pm
Dude. What is going on in your yard? CRAZY!
And I’m dreaming of going to the Maldives. Far away islands are my game.
Comment by slynnro — July 11, 2008 @ 2:24 pm
Thing the first, Whimsy, Astoria is actually in Oregon. Barely but it is. And Goonies rocks!
Thing the second, I completely agree with Fiona that you must install some sort of camera to figure out what/who is giving you all of those nice gifts. It’s too strange not to get all CSI investigative on it.
Right at this moment I want to go not here. That’s it. Just not where I currently am.
Comment by Emily — July 11, 2008 @ 2:44 pm
oh my god, i want to go to SO MANY PLACES. although usually it’s more along the lines of a whole country, and not a teeny town. i’ve been to a LOT of quaint little towns in my day, though. my parents loved ‘em and we’d always vacation in a quaint New England town when i was growing up.
Comment by Alice — July 11, 2008 @ 2:49 pm
Actually the Goonies was filmed in Astoria, Oregon.
I don’t know why I knew that, but I did look it up on IMDB to make sure.
Anyway… now I’m done being anal and will reveal my dream visit: Ireland. Anywhere in Ireland.
Comment by seven — July 11, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
OMG, I think we go through Ottoville, OH to visit my sister who lives 10 minutes from there! Think…corn fields and cows!
There are so many places I want to travel but if I got to pick one and leave today it would be Aruba.
Comment by Sara — July 11, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
I’ve always had a crush on Rhode Island…I don’t know why, I think I connected with the smallest state because I’m small. Or I just felt bad for it because it seems so overshadowed and left out there.
I’m drawn to old seaside towns. But not anything Pacificy really.. I want a place with harsh winter winds and windblown trees. Where the paint is peeling off of buildings and old men wear both sweaters and beards.
Comment by Shannon — July 11, 2008 @ 3:42 pm
Found you through Alice specifically today, but have seen your comments around … WHY OH WHY have I never clicked over before today?! WOE!
Love the Ottoville, Ohio idea … when my sister and I were younger and we had to give our names at restaurants and such, we would sign in with “old” sounding names … mine was “Abigail.” Of course now, Abigail is very popular. But it wasn’t back then. I like to think it was my overuse of it that made it popular again.
Comment by moo — July 11, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Welcome, Moo!
Comment by Shauna — July 11, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
Um… I sort of have weird goosebump-thingies because DUDE I live SO close to the Ottoville you dream of! I almost feel like you had a dream about MEETING ME or something!
Comment by Sarah — July 11, 2008 @ 3:58 pm
Sara,
That is so weird that you drive through there!
And Sarah,
That is FANTASTIC.
Comment by Shauna — July 11, 2008 @ 4:13 pm
I’m intrigued by Truth or Consequences, New Mexico and Cicely, Alaska.
Comment by LoriD — July 11, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
Maine and Montana. I have never been to either, know very little about either, but am determined to go one day for reasons I cannot fully understand.
Comment by Shelly — July 13, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
yeah…so a little late joining in the party. But I agree with Emily. I want to be anywhere but where I AM. Although Ireland seems like it would be nice…
Comment by Sarah — July 14, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Well, definitely not a place in Ohio. I grew up there for god’s sake, the last thing I want to do is be around more pasty sweaty people who think “mountain” equals 600 feet high or more.
I think maybe a nice little get-away in Tuscany, Italy. Sometimes I imagine holing up there for a while after I win the lotto or something.
Comment by Penny — July 14, 2008 @ 2:02 pm