Since we joined Twitter a few months back (we know, we were the last people on Earth to do so!) we’ve “met” lots of people who are traveling indefinitely. They’ve sold everything and hit the road. They’re having the time of their lives and they have little or no desire to return “home” or even choose a new place to call home. They see new places all the time and we’ve enjoyed following their adventures digitally. And for us, that’s where it ends.
Right now, the magnolia we planted last year – just three days before our daughter was born – has finally managed to bloom for the first time. The petals, dark burgundy, almost glow against the pale gray of the tree’s trunk. It’s a mere three flowers (co-incidence?), but we’re hopeful for next year.
Our peach tree bursts into bloom.
Our apricot tree was so laden with fruit last year that we made enough jam to last us through the year.
A new batch which we will share with our friends. The friends who have celebrated with us in good times, and consoled us in bad. Who watch our house for us when we disappear to some far-flung corner of the Earth for a week, or two, or three… The friends who read our emails sent from the road and listen to all our stories when we get back.
Some times some of them go too, and we read their emails and pore excitedly over their photos. But most often they just listen, happy for us. It’s good to fly away. But it’s equally good to come home.
We’re just the same. Much as we love travelling, there are things about home that might seem ridiculous to some but that give us great happiness in staying at home. We have a small yard in our town house, but it is current in gorgeous bloom from a clematis that I spent time nurturing and repairing when we bought the house. We would not want to miss this annual treat, nor the strong smell of the flowers from our mock orange tree that we planted two years ago, which are about to blossom.
It’s about finding the right balance, and for some folks indefinite travel suits their preferences. For us it’s more a case of little and often.
Enjoy the peaches this year – you can’t beat straight from the tree!
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Nice post. My wife and I are one of those who don’t have a place to call home (yet). At times we do long for those things that are inherent in “home”, which is why we have chosen to travel much slower. For example, we’re in NYC for 3 months, living in a furnished flat. For all intents and purposes, it’s “home.” But, yes, in the end we do want a base where we can finally consolidate all of our boxes (that are floating all around the world!) and have a big bookshelf to store our ever growing collection.
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Oh, and by the way, I came here via your Tweet. So good choice to sign up 😉
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I go back and forth on this whole thing. I love home. I live in the city I was born and raised in, where nearly ALL my family and friends live. It’s an exciting place with plenty to do and see and great places to eat, drink, and hang out. It will always be HOME, and this is where I always want to end up.
All that being said, after being home now for over 7 months from our year long RTW, if we had the means, we would pick up and take off tomorrow for another long adventure. Trying to find that balance in a culture where vacation days are minimal and long term traveling is never viewed as any kind of priority, it’s difficult. I’d love to travel for a few months, come home for a few months, rinse and repeat, but that’s pretty much impossible. I do love home, but just as much as I love traveling. I will never be one of those people who could just travel for years and never want to come home, but I will never be one of those people who can just be satisfied with a week of vacation a year.
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