Since 2001, I've lived in Georgia, France, South Carolina, England, Tennessee, and Montana. When I left college in 2004 I thought I'd be living in France right now working on whatever it was I was supposed to be working on. Turns out, life went a little differently and now I'm working on whatever it is I'm supposed to be working on in Montana. A little different, but pretty none-the-less.
The funny part of it is, in all of those places I was always ready and planning on being in the next place. The next fence over, the next job, the next thing. It hasn't been till recently that I started to get more comfortable with the idea of being right where I am the moment that I'm there. But that place is more like my actual seat than my current longitude and latitude. I'm not sure if that's really all that healthy but I'll take what I can get.
I realize that I've been struck with a certain kind of wanderlust that only a few a really hit hard by. I'm one of those lucky ones. Lucky in that I know I won't stop wanting to see just what's over the horizon. Not-so-lucky in that the members of my wandering club seem to dwindle more and more the closer I get to "adulthood." The farther I look down the line the more I see marriages and babies and responsibilities and bills. And I'm not against those things, it just seems to me a easy way to get trapped in one place. And one place was never on my itinerary. My feeling on the that life being fantastic was more "Isn't it pretty to think so?"
So it has come to a surprise to even myself to be walking further and further down that path. The trick, so far it seems, is to have a great travel companion. Or at least one who is understanding of needing to go those few extra blocks, have that extra drink, or stay out a little bit longer. Just a little. So today, with less than a week before I head out again into the world of airplanes and long lines and unknown roads, I'm thankful for that understanding. Here's to that extra drink with a lifelong travel mate.
The funny part of it is, in all of those places I was always ready and planning on being in the next place. The next fence over, the next job, the next thing. It hasn't been till recently that I started to get more comfortable with the idea of being right where I am the moment that I'm there. But that place is more like my actual seat than my current longitude and latitude. I'm not sure if that's really all that healthy but I'll take what I can get.
I realize that I've been struck with a certain kind of wanderlust that only a few a really hit hard by. I'm one of those lucky ones. Lucky in that I know I won't stop wanting to see just what's over the horizon. Not-so-lucky in that the members of my wandering club seem to dwindle more and more the closer I get to "adulthood." The farther I look down the line the more I see marriages and babies and responsibilities and bills. And I'm not against those things, it just seems to me a easy way to get trapped in one place. And one place was never on my itinerary. My feeling on the that life being fantastic was more "Isn't it pretty to think so?"
So it has come to a surprise to even myself to be walking further and further down that path. The trick, so far it seems, is to have a great travel companion. Or at least one who is understanding of needing to go those few extra blocks, have that extra drink, or stay out a little bit longer. Just a little. So today, with less than a week before I head out again into the world of airplanes and long lines and unknown roads, I'm thankful for that understanding. Here's to that extra drink with a lifelong travel mate.
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5 comments:
Ohhh, I love this. I get struck with wanderlust A LOT -- and especially when things in my everyday life aren't going the way I'd like for them to go. I'm always thinking about where I'd love to get away to or where I'd like to move to if I had no strings attached. Though I've always lived in Tennessee, I've relocated within Tennessee (as in moving to a different city that's at least an hour away from the last) six times. I've come to realize each time that changing locations doesn't mean life is better. Each move comes up with a new crop of challenges. And then I realize life is pretty good exactly where I am, and maybe I should focus on enjoying it a little bit more.
And ditto to having a great companion for the whole ride!
Thanks lady. I think it's one of those things that just gets easier and harder to negotiate over time. The more I find I want to leave the more I want to stay home. But I think that makes each part so much better. Glad you liked the post.
This is lovely! It takes most people much longer to figure out how to bloom where they're planted. I always think of the Yogi Berra (I think) quote: No matter where you go, there you are.
you made me cry! (-: so happy for you!!
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