Romanticizing vs. Reality

After reading my post yesterday, a lightbulb in my head lit, making me realized that people fantasize about places they have never been before, romanticizing in our mind about those exotic places. For those who have never visited Puerto Rico, or have visited as tourists only, the island may seem like an idillyc place to live, with its turquoise sky, white clouds, and wonderful weather all year around. The flora will look exotic, its vibrant colors catching their eyes. The island can entice a foreigner, making his/her imagination take flight. If they're writers, that imagination can take new heights. And if they're romance writers, it'll turn into a source of inspiration. However, those of us who have lived here all our lives can tell you a very different story. The hardships of getting a job. Living through hurricanes and draughts. (Don't take me wrong. Puerto Rico isn't such a bad place to live. Especially if you live in a small town. Totally quiet.) And don't get me started on politics. Reality crashes against that romantic version, pretty much stripping the illusion away. For example, it's like me and snow. I've never seen snow in my life. Sure, I've seen pics of it, but that's as close as I've been to snow. In my mind, writing a story in which the hero and heroine are trapped in a cabin after a snowstorm sounds very romantic. The snow covering the land like a while blanket. The fire. The furs on the floor. Warming by the hearth. Hmm...the deliciously romantic possibilities. Of course, Jill, who's still been getting snow, would tell me differently. *lol* My point is some romance writers romanticize about Puerto Rico. Me? I've lived here all my life. So I'm having a hard time coming up with romantic ideas to set here. Reality bites...