The entire state of Rhode Island.
Russia and Ukraine, Gaza and Israel, immigrant families torn apart at the Mexico border. These are the conflicts we hear about in the news. But tragedy strikes close to home as well. David Carpenter had to say "that's it" to his dream of living on the idyllic coast of eastern Rhode Island. The 52 year old sales associate told Kalkaska he and his family would have to make the long voyage to the western half of the state after he failed to make enough on commission the third time this year. "It was always a dream of mine to raise my family in this land. This eastern dreamhouse, as we called it. I guess that dream must be deferred." - David Carpenter David is joined by his wife and two daughters as they prepare to make the long and arduous trek from Narragansett, Rhode Island, to Westerly, Rhode Island, a backbreaking 25.7 miles by car. As horrifying as the trip is, the Carpenters may even have to make the trip twice, in order to transport the family's precious heirlooms, which include 2 flat screen TVs, matching jet skis, a sailboat, and 80x80 foot above ground pool. "Before we lived in the land of opportunity. The beautiful Atlantic waves at our doorstep, and world class universities just up the road. Now we're going to be neighbors to... Connecticut? We might as well move to North Korea." -Mary Carpenter, homeopathic nurse. It is uncertain if the Carpenters will survive their journey, or if they will die of dysentery on the way there. It is statistically likely that at least one of their children will. But the family holds out hope to one day return to their native land. "Every moment I spend in that western, urbanized hellhole, I will be working to return. They make take me out of southeastern Rhode Island, but they will never remove that beautiful land, that oasis, that well of power that is Narragansett from my soul." -David Carpenter, who moved to Rhode Island in 2019 from Delaware.
Bernadette Brewster, Kalkaska Chronicle
