GlossyVeneer

What do you consider to be your hometown? Is it the place you were born, the place you grew up, the place you live now, the place you spent the most years?

I’m having a hard time with this one. I looked up a definition for hometown (thanks to Google’s define:word feature) and this is what it returned: the town (or city) where you grew up or where you have your principal residence.

I was born in Illinois and I lived there until I was 7. Then I moved to the town I currently live in for one year. Then I moved to northern Utah for one year. Then I moved back to this town for the next 11 years. Then I moved to Salt Lake City for 2 years. Then it was back to this town for the past 3.5 years.

By a couple of those definitions up there, I guess I would have to claim this town as my hometown because I did most of my growing up here, I’ve spent the most years of my life here and I live here now. But the strange thing is, even though this town is growing, it is still a small town. And in a small town, if you weren’t born here and your parents and grandparents and great-grandparents didn’t live here, then you aren’t viewed as a hometown kid.

When I introduce myself to people who have lived in this town forever, my last name(s) automatically click with them as “outsider” and they ask me where I’m from. I always respond, “I’m from here, I guess.” And they say, “No, where did you come from before you came here.” So I tell them I moved here from Illinois and that seems to appease them. So do I claim Peoria, Illinois as my hometown, even though I left when I was seven and haven’t ever been back?

So, if you feel like leaving me a comment, tell me – where do you consider your hometown?
A. Current residence
B. Birth residence
C. The place of your childhood
D. Place of longest residence
E. Any other option you may have for defining “hometown”

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