Sunday will mark the end of my first year in Suffolk.

Considering the fact that the job market hasn’t showed much improvement since I was laid off from my first newspaper job, I am truly grateful that the right mixture of events combined to lead me here.

As I’ve explained before, while I had heard of Suffolk before, I knew very little of the town across the water from where I live. A year isn’t that much time, but I’ve managed to learn a few things:

4Don’t judge a book by its cover. I have to admit that my first trip to Suffolk made me think it was a broken down city with old houses and potholed roads. That has thankfully begun to change with the addition of new stores and restaurants. But even the older areas have plenty of life, if you’re willing to look. Take an area on Washington Street near the railroad tracks. Last summer, my trips to work got more interesting due to the great watermelon battle, where two local farmers parked across from each other and attempted to sell more melons than the other.

4The Planters Peanut is tiny. Seriously, when I was told that the famous legume was immortalized somewhere in Suffolk, I figured it would at least be noticeable. It actually took me several weeks to see it, despite the fact that I drove past it every day on my way to work. And when I did, I was quite underwhelmed. But despite its tiny stature, it represents a huge source of pride for Suffolk, one that will hopefully continue in the years to come.

4The food scene in Suffolk is booming. I’ve taken the opportunity to sample much of the multitude of new and old restaurants available and I have to say that Suffolk is food heaven. From deliciously spicy Jamaican food at Jammin’ Jerk to the southern-style fare at Plaid Turnip and brick-oven pizzas at Amici’s, I have never tasted so much delicious food in such a small area.

Which brings me to what I’m most excited about for this summer — the arrival of farm-fresh produce. From the CSA I joined, to the farmers markets scattered throughout Suffolk, it’s looking like it will be an excellent year for my stomach. And when my stomach is happy, I’m happy.