Living up in Plattsburgh on campus while I work to finish up my BA in Political Science, I feel as though I suffer from some kind of regional schizophrenia or constant identity crisis.Plattsburgh is nice, but it so differtent living in a rural community with a different political make-up and a different look of sorts. To make matters worst, I'm in an even more confused campus community that has a blend of students from across the state and Vermont. I go to a college were you never know if your going to hear country or hip-hop music in the Campus Center. I tend to stay away when it's the hip-hop crap.

So I am confused as I get more entangled with the political organizations up here from the Clinton County Democrats to DA Andrew Wiley's campaign to the North Country Democracy for America. It's fun to participate in politics here, but it's just so darn confusing when you realize that your now in the minority, fighting for values that are unpopular. To make matters worst, I've never been an ideological democrat so I don't always agree with the fight. In Albany the Democrats are basically the party to belong to.

In the past week, I've been to dozens of towns from Altona to Willsboro to Lake Placid to Ticonderoga. At nearly $3.60 a gallon around these parts, it all comes with a nasty sting. Yet, somehow I feel as though I need to know this region, and love it. I guess I need to now the North Country like I know the greater Albany area. Maybe it's silly, but I really love what I'm seeing from the small to large farms along the road, to vast tracts of wilderness, to the many small towns. The scenery is so varied from place to place. Maybe I'm just looking for another Albany up north.

I am getting used to the changes in my life, but it is tough as I try to find my place up here. I will never be a true North County boy, but I can become part of the society. I love the North Country, but I also love Albany.