My morning drive took an extra 15 minutes today as I had to deal with the lingering paranoia that I had left something running. Was my iron still plugged in? Was my oven still at 400 degrees? Was my hair-straightener sitting on my bathroom vanity about to burn a mark into the countertop? I dropped my daughter off at school and circled back around to my house to check all small and large appliances before taking my son to daycare and then heading over the river to work.

This lurking fear that I have left my house in jeopardy is a frequent morning condition for me; and one of the reasons why it is imperative for me to stay a Hoosier while earning my living on the east side of the Ohio River (or south, depending on what bridge you take to get there).

My drive to work is relatively easy considering I live 30 minutes from my office according to Google Maps. Of course, that distance is an estimate as I had to map the actual drive to my office from my daughter’s school as Google maps can’t find my Georgetown address. If I don’t have morning taxi duties, I can make the drive in just under 25 minutes. Yes, I pass more than one cow pasture on my way to work, but there is rarely any sitting-in-traffic on my way to Louisville.

With the short commute and a grade-school close to home, I can manage my running-appliances-paranoia. It’s not a big deal for me to simply turn back around and put my fears to rest. This is one of the perks of living in Indiana and working in Kentucky; ironically enough, coming from Indiana never seems to take as long as it would if I had to come from Oldham County, or travel the Hurstbourne corridor to get to the Highlands.

My morning commute (not to be confused with My Morning Jacket, which would be a Louisville perk) is not the only perk that goes along with sleeping on this side of the river. Hoosiers get to live in the land of lower tax rates and a real estate market that, on average, gives you more square footage for your dollar.

We may not have the choice of restaurants or entertainment that Louisville has, but we’re getting better. With the new Wick’s in downtown New Albany and Toast on Market, I don’t have to cross the river for a tasty, trendy breakfast or a Big Wick on a Saturday night (the Big Wick is a pizza — and if you were thinking something else, you really need to get out more). On the flip side, if anybody wants the best beer selection around, they won’t find it in Louisville — Sportstime, Richo’s and Bank Street Brewhouse are a definite Indiana perk.

We have our own independent bookstore (thank you, Destination Booksellers) and an art supply place right around the corner. With a new Hob Knobb Roasting Company now on State Street, I can keep myself occupied for an entire Saturday morning without ever crossing the Sherman Minton.

With all I like about my side of the river, there’s a lot I like about Louisville. I was raised a University of Louisville fan and never wore an IU sweatshirt until I started borrowing my husband’s. Besides drinking coffee at Hob Knobb, my favorite morning hang-out is the Heine Brother’s Coffee spot on Longest after picking up a new book or the latest New Yorker at Carmichael Bookstore right next door. In fact, I could hang out all day (and have) on that entire block. With Ramsi’s Café on the World (although, I just call it Ramsi’s) right there by Carmicheal’s and Baxter Avenue Theaters across the street, it makes for a good date night when you’re of the age that you need a baby-sitter before you can go out.

Even with my love for the corner of Longest & Bardstown, I am still a firm believer that it is better to be from over here while taking advantage of over there. Hoosiers are less likely to discriminate when it comes to crossing the river. Many of us know the fastest way to get from Oxmoor Mall to the Louisville Slugger Museum. But, you would be hard-pressed to find someone from Louisville who can get from Hubers to the Kennedy Bridge without getting turned around, at least twice.

When it comes to Louisville, there is a lot to be said about the view from over here. A lot more than I can fit in this column, so I’ve decided to start blogging about this view-living in Indiana while taking advantage of Kentucky, at http://viewfromoverhereblog.wordpress.com. It’s a new writing endeavor that I’m taking on for The Tribune. If you’re someone who enjoys straddling the river, then bookmark my newest blog and let me know what you like about being a Hoosier who sneaks into Louisville every now and again. I’d also like to hear from anyone living in Louisville, but I’m not sure they can find their way ... even online.