I don’t understand people who call themselves nomads, but…aren’t. When they say things like, “When I walk out of my apartment…” Wait. When you walk out of your what? You’re not a nomad, dipshit. It offends me because it’s a real choice, it’s a sincere lifestyle. I’ve been living it since 2003. Hating my coaching career by that point, and knowing that that wasn’t the career that was going to nourish my soul in this lifetime, I took off for Tokyo, Japan and never looked back. I initially thought I’d be leaving for just a year and then I’d return to the States and carry on with my life. But. Eight years after having shuffled through Okinawa, Egypt, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Zanzibar, Zambia, and Cape Town…I finally returned to the States. To New York City. 2011. Had only spent one night there before, maybe in the late 90’s.
Anyway, I had been gone so long without any type of return to the U.S., I wasn’t even sure I still had citizenship! I really didn’t know the rules. After a bit of research, I basically concluded that no, I didn’t lose my citizenship and secondly, that it is really difficult to give up your citizenship. Relieved and ready to move on. New York City. Railroad apartment on 1st St between 7th and St. Mark’s. I had to walk out of the apartment, down the public hallway, and then into the front door that opened up into the kitchen, and that is where the toilet was. And the exposed bathtub in the middle of the kitchen. I joined Blink fitness and just showered there every day.
I initially hadn’t wanted to return to the States. Even after 8 years. Not at all. I was so afraid that I’d get back and then somehow end up getting trapped here. So, I was giving lackluster vibes to my potential employers. Because. I didn’t want to commit to a two-year contract. Eventually agreed to like a 6-month one, I think. I later heard, from the owner, once she had gotten to know and love me, that they were all quite concerned about the ‘weirdo’ who wouldn’t commit to a longer contract and they were worried I was going to be trouble. Nah, I was good. Just knew that my peripatetic soul could not stay. Needed to fly again. After attending the U.S. Open and seeing a Nadal match (a cultural moment), I return to my beloved Japan. This time, Kobe. – excerpt
Beautifully said. Happy to know you.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad to know you as well and appreciate your thoughtful engagement with my writing. You can always be counted on to provide the color to the gray world around us.
“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.”
– Frank Herbert, *Dune*
The changes are in the state of minds, when we go from one place to the next, trying to find something that had yet to, reveal itself to us, we keep on, trekking, until we find whatever it is that we are, looking for, and, after we find it, we will, feel, settled down, no matter where we are, physically, geographically, because we have, come home to, our, selves, but, it is, vital, that there’s that, specific, place we can, anchor our selves down, a place we call, “home”.
I definitely agree with the notion that our travels are not just about reaching a geographical destination but about finding inner peace. No matter where we wander, feeling “at home” is more about achieving a sense of fulfillment and self-discovery than being in a specific place. We remind ourselves that the journey holds as much significance as the destination, and the true meaning of “home” is ultimately found within ourselves. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to respond. Have a great weekend.
from T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets”:
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
Peace must first be found, inside of our selves, otherwise, we will, never feel, settled enough, to, enjoy what we can, discover on these, trips we’re, taking, on the outside.