In March of 2020, we abruptly left our residence in New York Metropolis for 3 months to flee to Lengthy Island in hopes of dodging the unsure beginnings of the Covid pandemic. We eagerly sought to tuck ourselves in a secure haven away from the anticipated looming risks of the pandemic outbreak. After this escape to the burbs, we returned residence for 2 weeks earlier than packing our baggage as soon as once more to embark on a street journey that unexpectedly carried us for ten wonderful months as we explored the USA. After this unforgettable expertise, we returned to our New York Metropolis condominium for 3 months earlier than hitting the street as soon as extra for 3 extra weeks as we made our approach to California, our new residence state. For our first 4 months in San Diego, we stayed in a brief rental. Final week, we moved once more. This time, I anticipate planting ourselves for fairly some time.
After I look again at how a lot we bounced round for the previous twenty-one months I’m left in disbelief by how usually we moved, what number of beds we slept in, what number of houses we referred to as residence, and what number of instances we packed and unpacked our suitcases. For nearly two years we lived free-spirited lives, ignoring all social constructs and defying the norms. Nonetheless, irrespective of the place we slept, we at all times felt at residence. Collectively we redefined how “residence” is outlined by most. For us, we realized, that house is wherever we have been collectively.
Slowly actuality started to trickle in. Faculties resumed regular operations. Companies have been starting to function as normal. As dad and mom, we started to imagine that it was time to present our youngsters stability. However what’s stability? I battle with this idea. I proceed to vacillate between eager to plant our roots with the intention to resume a “regular” life once more whereas craving to proceed residing an unscripted life with simply my husband and youngsters. When it was simply the 5 of us, I felt extra steady than ever. Nonetheless, finally, we succumbed to normalcy and right here we’re, virtually two years later, establishing one central place to name residence.
I miss our days on the street; 5 pioneers discovering new territories collectively as we saught every day adventures. We had no distractions however the calls of nature which mesmerized us regularly. We had time. A lot time. I’ve by no means felt so liberated. We have been free to wander as we happy with no main restrictions as a result of the world was too busy attempting to determine itself out. I by no means discovered myself lacking our every day routine and even our NYC condominium that was our residence for eleven years. As an alternative, I shortly fell into the groove of getting zero attachments. I did not want closets full of garments, or dozens of footwear, or a home filled with stuff. All that mattered throughout our escapades on the street was retaining our youngsters secure, wholesome, and making the perfect of a grim international scenario. We have been capable of grasp this purpose out of 1 suitcase for months at a time.
Right here we’re virtually two years later in a brand new metropolis, throughout the nation, and in a brand new everlasting residence. Do not get me incorrect, I like our new residence. I spent the final three months utterly immersed in constructing this residence in order that we may make new reminiscences in it. However with this residence comes attachments and obligations that I actually may do with out. I discover myself staring into my new walk-in closet, questioning how I went from being completely content material residing out of a suitcase to designing a spacious closet that may maintain extra garments than I am going to ever want. Our new residence is gorgeous. Each nook has been touched by my artistic enter to make it ours. I’m grateful to stay on this residence. Actually although, regardless of all these realizations, I discover myself conflicted. Being with no everlasting residence for 2 years proved to be extra empowering and fulfilling than any plot of land you may dangle earlier than me. I miss the street. I miss breaking boundaries and residing an unordinary life. How we went from residing like gypsies (okay, possibly extra like glam gypsies) to residing just like the Joneses I have not fairly discovered.
The previous three months have been spent with laser precision centered solely on getting this home prepared for our youngsters. Nature’s name has been a faint whisper, one I’ve repeatedly ignored. Time slipped by means of my grasp over these previous few months with days melting into nights. I take satisfaction in what I’ve achieved in such a brief time period. Many have advised me it was an unimaginable enterprise. Regardless of all of the accolades and delightful design of our new abode, I sorely miss our days floating round, when every day was a brand new journey, a brand new expertise, a brand new starting. It has been one week since we moved into our new, everlasting residence. I’m thrilled to see the outcomes of all our exhausting work and executed imaginative and prescient slowly unfold. I have to be clear although – I usually see our automotive parked within the driveway and fantasize about throwing our suitcases within the trunk, filling up the tank, and simply driving for numerous miles.
House is the place you might be, in your coronary heart and thoughts. You may be anyplace and all over the place and be residence. I’m having a tough time shifting from the evolution of residence being all over the place to being confined to a house inside these partitions we have now constructed. One thing about proudly owning a house makes me really feel abnormal once more. That is a phrase I do not like being related to. So, if I’m not on the street, I suppose my subsequent step is to stay an unordinary life inside the residence we constructed. That is an entire different weblog put up.
Our youngsters have been exceptionally resilient. They love the brand new area we created but have expressed that it would not really feel like residence to this point since we have now not been in it lengthy sufficient. So is “residence” outlined by models of time? To me, house is anyplace so long as I’m with them. To them, house is anyplace that you just settle in for a protracted time period. I ponder, years from now, how they are going to replicate again on their experiences for the previous two years. Do they secretly miss life on the street as a lot as I do? Or do they crave consolation in long-term housing? So far, they’ve solely expressed constructive suggestions on the aesthetics of our new home. Do they need to plant themselves in a single area once more for a protracted time period? I’ve requested them, they appear to be as confused as I’m.
Two years is a very long time, however everyone knows how shortly it passes. Twenty-one months of bed-hopping all through cities has change into a blur in my thoughts however the euphoric feeling of normal explorations and every day encounters with the unknown stay crystal clear. We shared unforgettable experiences that may by no means be relived. Is it actually higher to relaxation our heads on one pillow for years?
My sincere response isn’t any. And sure. When you have got kids of their teenagers, who’re altering at lightning velocity tempo and crave social interactions, there’s a must hunker down and allow them to expertise relationships, challenges, and routine. However, when you’ve got toddlers or elementary school-aged kids, or no kids, I say, pack your automotive and drive for as far and lengthy as you may till life pulls you again to your driveway.
For me, it is a no-brainer; when our youngsters are off to school, my husband and I’ll return to a lifetime of residing like Airbnb groupies, leaping from home to accommodate and metropolis to metropolis. The calling is just too exhausting to disregard. In truth, I hear its calls on daily basis as I sit again making an attempt to admire our new residence. For now, I am going to keep put for my kids and give attention to making a heat, loving setting for them on this one area. Nonetheless, when they’re off to their grownup lives, I will be off to Route 66 with the wind in my hair, music blaring, with no plan, and principally, no attachments. But, even then, I will be residence.
