Moving from one home to another, state to state, town to town, one coast to the other and back again, layers up inconveniences and work. It also affords grants many favors and freedoms.
Beginning a childhood career of moving at three weeks of age, it took many less years that one might think to garner awareness of these delights.
From early on - though, not quite that first move at three weeks old, for sure - I reveled in the excitement of a move. Dad always left for the new location, Mom prepared the house for sale, and there were lots of visitors that I learned, as I grew, were people looking to buy what would become our old home.
Sure, there was the pain in the backside to packing - whether it was a company move that provided help or not - deciding what to keep and what could be parted with permanently. And when little, the parade of people visiting your home is fun, but as you get a little bit older, you have to help prep the house for each potential buyer. The man that came with the video camera who insisted I stand in the pictures for his wife, so she could get an idea of scale - even though I was home sick - was certainly worthy of a groan.
There's the work and the inconveniences and the good-byes and all the changes.
And then, there's all the changes.
Moving to a new place means everything is new. A new house to explore. New friends to find. New schools to enroll in. A new neighborhood to navigate.
And a new You.
Everything is new. Everything is full of possibilities.
Loaded baggage will travel with you from one place to the next. But, each new location also leaves one hand free to explore what might happen if that baggage is laid down.
Baggage can always be laid down, regardless of a new location, a new you. But, inevitably it is a much easier and obvious choice to make when geographically starting over.
Moving more than many military families growing up, I can vividly remember the dazzling excitement of a new locale...at least, until I was old enough to assume the responsibilities of moving myself - then, it was a whole lot of work!
And now, happily living in one location for more than a baker's dozen years, I also know the peacefulness of remaining still.
But, no longer will a new location invariably create a new me with little effort. Staying still means any change I now want, I have to create. And that is an entirely different, and foreign to me, journey to travel.
This post was inspired by mystery thriller novel The Expats by Chris Pavone. Kate Moore happily sheds her old life to become a stay at home mom when her husband takes a job in Europe. As she attempts to reinvent herself, she ends up chasing her evasive husband's secrets. Join From Left to Write on January 22 as we discuss The Expats. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
