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 protected 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 luggage as soon as once more to embark on a highway 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 condo for 3 months earlier than hitting the highway as soon as extra for 3 extra weeks as we made our solution to California, our new residence state. For our first 4 months in San Diego, we stayed in a short lived 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 known 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, regardless of the place we slept, we all the time 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 standard. As mother and father, we started to consider that it was time to offer our youngsters stability. However what’s stability? I wrestle with this idea. I proceed to vacillate between desirous to plant our roots so as to resume a “regular” life once more whereas craving to proceed dwelling an unscripted life with simply my husband and youngsters. When it was simply the 5 of us, I felt extra secure than ever. Nonetheless, finally, we succumbed to normalcy and right here we’re, nearly two years later, establishing one central place to name residence.
I miss our days on the highway; 5 pioneers discovering new territories collectively as we saught day by day adventures. We had no distractions however the calls of nature which mesmerized us frequently. 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 making an attempt to determine itself out. I by no means discovered myself lacking our day by day routine and even our NYC condo 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 highway was conserving our youngsters protected, wholesome, and making the most effective of a grim world state of affairs. We have been in a position to grasp this purpose out of 1 suitcase for months at a time.
Right here we’re nearly two years later in a brand new metropolis, throughout the nation, and in a brand new everlasting residence. Do not get me unsuitable, I really like our new residence. I spent the final three months fully immersed in constructing this residence in order that we might make new recollections in it. However with this residence comes attachments and tasks that I actually might do with out. I discover myself staring into my new walk-in closet, questioning how I went from being completely content material dwelling out of a suitcase to designing a spacious closet that may maintain extra garments than I will ever want. Our new residence is gorgeous. Each nook has been touched by my artistic enter to make it ours. I’m grateful to dwell 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’ll be able to dangle earlier than me. I miss the highway. I miss breaking boundaries and dwelling an unordinary life. How we went from dwelling like gypsies (okay, possibly extra like glam gypsies) to dwelling just like the Joneses I have not fairly found out.
The previous three months have been spent with laser precision targeted solely on getting this home prepared for our youngsters. Nature’s name has been a faint whisper, one I’ve repeatedly ignored. Time slipped via my grasp over these previous few months with days melting into nights. I take delight in what I’ve completed in such a brief time period. Many have informed me it was an unattainable endeavor. 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 arduous work and executed imaginative and prescient slowly unfold. I should be clear although – I usually see our automobile 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 could be wherever and in all places and be residence. I’m having a tough time shifting from the evolution of residence being in all places to being confined to a house inside these partitions we have now constructed. One thing about proudly owning a house makes me really feel atypical once more. That is a phrase I do not like being related to. So, if I’m not on the highway, I assume my subsequent step is to dwell an unordinary life inside the residence we constructed. That is an entire different weblog submit.
Our youngsters have been exceptionally resilient. They love the brand new house we created but have expressed that it does not really feel like residence to date since we have now not been in it lengthy sufficient. So is “residence” outlined by models of time? To me, house is wherever so long as I’m with them. To them, house is wherever that you simply settle in for a protracted time period. I’m wondering, years from now, how they’ll replicate again on their experiences for the previous two years. Do they secretly miss life on the highway as a lot as I do? Or do they crave consolation in long-term housing? To this point, they’ve solely expressed constructive suggestions on the aesthetics of our new home. Do they need to plant themselves in a single house 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 standard explorations and day by 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 is not any. And sure. When you may have youngsters 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 have toddlers or elementary school-aged youngsters, or no youngsters, I say, pack your automobile and drive for as far and lengthy as you’ll be able to 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 dwelling like Airbnb groupies, leaping from home to accommodate and metropolis to metropolis. The calling is simply too arduous to disregard. In truth, I hear its calls day by day as I sit again making an attempt to admire our new residence. For now, I will keep put for my youngsters and concentrate on making a heat, loving setting for them on this one house. 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.
