Settling Down? | Exploration 28 | journey in place

The idea of Settling Down is a tough one for me. It is part of what drew me to this year long exercise of writing about my Journey in Place.

Everywhere I’ve lived, I have planted a tree, or flowers, or a bush. At first it was an unconscious effort, then it became a kind of tradition. A way of saying that I once lived here. And I have lived and traveled in many places.

For the first half of my life I moved a lot because I was poor, always going from one rental to the next–searching for a home. 

Beyond that I have always been restless, dreaming of the day I could travel the world and explore.

And here I am, doing that. This  past year I’ve traveled to Iceland, Turkey, and, next month, Algeria. I’ve been out of the country 28 times in the last 21 years. As an adult I’ve driven all over the United States, more than once and camped and hiked over many parts of the southeast.

Yet there is no place like home. My flowers, my bedroom, my community of family and friends here in Baltimore. The journey would not be so sweet without this loving home to come back to. 

This is also where I find myself grateful for technology. The ability to stay in touch, to work, to make plans across continents makes it easier to travel–particularly with a family.

What is Settling Down for you?