Am I running away
from something or toward it?
I think the answer to that has evolved over time. As I’ve grown older, I have begun to
appreciate how important it is to be comfortable in your environment. I truly love the experience of seeing new places
and living there allows me to really immerse myself in the community, something
you can’t do if you’re just a visitor.
Then there is the homebody in me that needs a peaceful, nurturing environment
to thrive.
A big sign that I am ready for a change is when I begin to
feel trapped or isolated. No matter how
comfortable my surroundings may be, if I feel uneasy in my space I must leave. My answer to that is to seek out a new
location. It doesn’t matter to me if
it’s near or far, I have moved out of state and out of the country with a
suitcase and plane ticket. Sometimes I
don’t even have a place to live when I arrive.
It is a thrilling
adventure.
Arriving in a new city with only a hotel or B&B booked
feels very fun and carefree. Then
reality sets in and you realize that you actually need to find a place to live
if you are going to stay for any length of time. Suddenly, making those arrangements and
trying to get settled in your new place takes on a life of its own and can
consume all your free time. Sometimes I
wonder if that is part of the appeal to me.
I’ve always loved the start-up of any project I’ve worked
on. It’s the ongoing maintenance I don’t
really care for and soon will become bored and start looking for the next new
thing.
As soon as something
catches my interest the planning begins.
I enjoy preparing to go almost as much as the actual
event. Deciding what to do with my
personal belongings, how and when I will leave etc., it’s great fun to plan for
the adventure. There is also an element
of fear that seems to enhance the experience.
I am always cautious about what I am doing and know that if, for any
reason, I don’t want to be there, I can come home. It feels like a good safety net and gives me
more confidence to give it a try.
I always miss my family when I’m away and after a certain
amount of time, visits will no longer suffice and I must return home again and
I begin to arrange that.
With each change
comes a new perspective on my life.
Looking back, I realize how much each of those experiences
has taught me and how much it makes me appreciate the wonderful life I have.
Whenever I am in a new place it is an opportunity to explore
an entirely different side of myself. I
am very good at blending in and becoming part of that environment, much like a
chameleon. It gives me a chance to try
something new and see what fits and what doesn’t.
Metamorphosis
Every time I return from one of my extended excursions, I
feel transformed. I have added something
new that was not there before and my world has expanded. It is that experience that keeps me wanting
more. It helps me remember that no
matter how old I get, I still have the capacity to grow and change in ways that
I never imagined.
I don’t know if it is bold, brave or stupid but it is
something that makes me feel more alive than staying in one place ever
could.
For now, I’ll enjoy the respite of my new home-base and wait
to see where the next adventure takes me.
Do you prefer to stay in one place or do you
like to move around? What is the biggest
change you’ve made and how did it make you feel? Share your stories and join the conversation.
