I grew up in Central Illinois and as you can expect my next-door neighbor was a corn field. I grew up sailing and kayaking and have not stopped. I learned to appreciate the peace and quiet you can get on a boat with no motor. I went to school in Southern Illinois and really learned to appreciate the natural beauty of the Ohio Valley where I kayaked, camped, and even worked in the woods as much as I could. Now I live in Denver, CO and do the exact same things.