I have always felt that there is no better place to be then here in America.  This particular location just east of Seattle is a pretty damn good in the best county in the world.  My journey led me almost 8,000 miles around Australia.  I spent some time in the largest cities but most of it in the small coastal towns on the south and east coast of the country.  Just before returning home I met my daughter and we drove from Auckland to Franz Joseph then took a train to Christchurch in New Zealand.  There were some major differences that were immediately apparent.  Australia is almost the same size as the continental United States.