For the first 6.5 years I've been in the UK, I lived in the most central bit of central London. So moving to a suburb 9 miles south of city centre has been quite the shift. I wasn't sure how I'd adjust, but I knew I was ready for the change so I packed up my old place, had lovely goodbyes with wonderful neighbours I had known since before the pandemic started, and went traveling for a bit as I worked through letting go of the flat and that part of the city.
While abroad, I mentally prepared myself and set goals for 1Q 2024, and one of them was to commit to making Thornton Heath a home even though I don't know if I'll be here for 3 months or 3 years. I was amazed to find that as soon as I exited to the train station for the first time after coming back from traveling, the first thought that popped into my head when I saw the high street was "I'm home". And that feeling has stuck with me as the weeks have gone on.
This isn't the first time I've felt such a radical shift in how I thought or felt about something, but it feels different since I had previously assumed that "home" has to be lived in for a while in order for you to acclimate to it. A friend refers to the home as an extension of your nervous system, and I assumed that I'd need to build that nervous system extension up over time. How cool to have it happen overnight!
I'm glad I've slipped right into this new life in the suburbs, and am looking forward to working on projects and hobbies, and seeing what comes next :)
With thanks to: wonderful neighbours Ginger, Jacky, Alp, Aftar, Naila, and Daisy
