I really like this flip on the concept of heaviness, the gravity and groundedness of committing oneself to a place or a time. Your writing always feels that way to me. A reliable of voice of consistency and sanity that represents what we all should be engaging—an active, non-desperate search for a meaningful life.
I really love the phrasing a "non-desperate search for a meaningful life." It captures so much of how I’m trying to approach it, with patience and curiosity, rather than being performative or letting the question marks unravel me. Thanks for the encouragement, as always!
I felt very seen by how you described the feeling of intentional research and trialing your daily rhythms. I'm in the middle of a similar search and it's brought a strange kind of clarity. I hope the visa gods smile down upon you!
Hard to articulate how much I love this. Your past 2 years feeling more like research than aimless wandering speaks volumes, as does the fact that you’re consciously choosing and building the life you want rather than assimilating with a reactionary mindset.
I also love that you’ve found your gravitational pull in Valencia, had someone there waiting for you at the airport and you already are making friends there.
The beauty and gift in life is how down the road you’re free to change anything and everything if/when it suits you, though it seems you’ve found your home for now.
What a remarkable journey. Interesting how Covid helped shape and perhaps accelerate all of this for you.
How exciting to return back to a place for longer-term or better yet, the unknown :) I feel similar in parts of Spain and having some comforts when revisiting a place make it slightly less foreign. & GL w the logistics, feeling your pain from Portugal!
Great post! As someone who has been pretty nomadic for much of my adult life, I know the tension that exists between the freedom of the road and the comforts of having a more permanent base. I teach at international schools, so I often go somewhere for 2 or 3 years, and then hit the road again. I do now have a permanent home base in Bali, but I'm only there when I'm not teaching and not travelling, so it doesn't quite have the heft of your new home base.
Things I miss about not having a place to call home while travelling? Not having a piano and a set of tennis partners. Having a daily routine that I'm in control of. Not being able to brew my own beer.
Things I miss about being in one place for a long time: the ability to see new things/places/animals/cultures, the stimulus that change provides, the monastic simplicity of a bicycle trip and living out of a tent.
There are pros and cons to both, and for me switching between the two is what keeps me happy. (Although if I were to inherit $1 million tomorrow, I'd probably be on the road full-time!)
You totally get it! Once I'm totally settled, I'm sure there will be moments that I miss my nomadic life. But hey, traveling isn't going anywhere and I can always take shorter trips, and I plan to explore much more of just Spain, too!
I've shed a lot of my materialistic habits (out of necessity), but I am looking forward to having a place my stuff again. Pretty tough to fit a piano into a carry-on, I'd imagine 🙂
Loved this, Emily! I'm moving to Valencia in a few months too. I've also been there a few times to visit and absolutely love it. Enjoy this exciting time as you settle in!! 🤩 Where in the city are you staying?
Hey Emily, I’m also in Valencia. I had also been here a few times before I moved here & I felt exactly that same gravitational pull towards the city. I love it here.
If you want to grab a coffee sometime let me know, welcome to the city!
I really like this flip on the concept of heaviness, the gravity and groundedness of committing oneself to a place or a time. Your writing always feels that way to me. A reliable of voice of consistency and sanity that represents what we all should be engaging—an active, non-desperate search for a meaningful life.
I really love the phrasing a "non-desperate search for a meaningful life." It captures so much of how I’m trying to approach it, with patience and curiosity, rather than being performative or letting the question marks unravel me. Thanks for the encouragement, as always!
Not letting the question marks unravel you! Perfect!
I’m excited for your Valencia chapter!
I will surely be publishing more about it over the next few months :)
I felt very seen by how you described the feeling of intentional research and trialing your daily rhythms. I'm in the middle of a similar search and it's brought a strange kind of clarity. I hope the visa gods smile down upon you!
Fingers crossed!!
Hard to articulate how much I love this. Your past 2 years feeling more like research than aimless wandering speaks volumes, as does the fact that you’re consciously choosing and building the life you want rather than assimilating with a reactionary mindset.
I also love that you’ve found your gravitational pull in Valencia, had someone there waiting for you at the airport and you already are making friends there.
The beauty and gift in life is how down the road you’re free to change anything and everything if/when it suits you, though it seems you’ve found your home for now.
What a remarkable journey. Interesting how Covid helped shape and perhaps accelerate all of this for you.
Lovely!
Thanks for the kind words, Kathy!
How exciting to return back to a place for longer-term or better yet, the unknown :) I feel similar in parts of Spain and having some comforts when revisiting a place make it slightly less foreign. & GL w the logistics, feeling your pain from Portugal!
Thank you! Yes, as much as I love going to new places, there is something so great about returning to places you love 🥹
Written with your usual on-target self awareness. The correction of miles to kilometers actually made me smile.
I love this update. Sending you good vibes that the Spanish bureaucracy is extra kind to you!
Great post! As someone who has been pretty nomadic for much of my adult life, I know the tension that exists between the freedom of the road and the comforts of having a more permanent base. I teach at international schools, so I often go somewhere for 2 or 3 years, and then hit the road again. I do now have a permanent home base in Bali, but I'm only there when I'm not teaching and not travelling, so it doesn't quite have the heft of your new home base.
Things I miss about not having a place to call home while travelling? Not having a piano and a set of tennis partners. Having a daily routine that I'm in control of. Not being able to brew my own beer.
Things I miss about being in one place for a long time: the ability to see new things/places/animals/cultures, the stimulus that change provides, the monastic simplicity of a bicycle trip and living out of a tent.
There are pros and cons to both, and for me switching between the two is what keeps me happy. (Although if I were to inherit $1 million tomorrow, I'd probably be on the road full-time!)
Mucha suerte con tu vida nueva en Valencia!
You totally get it! Once I'm totally settled, I'm sure there will be moments that I miss my nomadic life. But hey, traveling isn't going anywhere and I can always take shorter trips, and I plan to explore much more of just Spain, too!
I've shed a lot of my materialistic habits (out of necessity), but I am looking forward to having a place my stuff again. Pretty tough to fit a piano into a carry-on, I'd imagine 🙂
Good luck in Valencia, Emily! Glad to see you’ve settled on a place after all that agonizing haha I’ll need to come check out Valencia sometime
Loved this, Emily! I'm moving to Valencia in a few months too. I've also been there a few times to visit and absolutely love it. Enjoy this exciting time as you settle in!! 🤩 Where in the city are you staying?
Yeah, it’s been great so far! For the moment I’m near ruzafa but when I look for a long-term place I want to be a bit closer to the beach.
Hey Emily, I’m also in Valencia. I had also been here a few times before I moved here & I felt exactly that same gravitational pull towards the city. I love it here.
If you want to grab a coffee sometime let me know, welcome to the city!
Hey Emma, yes I’d love to! Sending you a DM 🙂