Monday’s Meditation: On Moving To A New Place

October 1, 2012

Quite recently, you will recall, I moved from Michigan to Seattle. Having done so, I can confirm what you will you have guessed: moving across the country after living in the same place for your entire existence is a strangely thrilling and really hard thing to do.

If you ever find yourself embarking on a similar transition, I warn you now- besides the loved ones you’ve left behind, you will miss desperately the ease of familiarity. You’ll yearn for the accidental cockiness of knowing your way around; which highways connect to what streets, and where the best place to shop for organic produce or trendy clothing is. You will realize suddenly how well you knew your former terrain, how long it took to acquire that knowledge (a lifetime), and how far you must go, how hard you must work in order to gain familiarity with a strangerland.

I’ll tell you too that you’ll feel like a dummy on more occasion than one– in a day; as if you’re constantly flying by the seat of your skinny jeans. When a stranger asks you what part of Seattle you live in you’ll reply, flummoxed, “the Seattle part,” and when a potential client from some town you’ve never heard of asks if you work in their area you’ll stammer, “hold please,” turn to the man beside you in Starbucks, perhaps and ask, “Sir? Do you think it would be advisable for me to drive to Puyallup?”

You will react occasionally with discomfort and dislike to the various nuances that differ from your homestate, will naturally be inclined to think they’re doing it wrong here. One day you may try to bring your empty seltzer bottles back to your local Trader Joe’s store– for the precious dimes they’re worth upon return. At the check out, the TJ’s guys will laugh first at you, and then amongst themselves. “You bring those back to reminisce?” They’ll ask. And you will try your hardest to explain, “But see, where I’m from we-” but they’ll be too busy chuckling to hear or care.

It won’t all be bad, of course. You will commonly celebrate small victories—knowing that Pike and Pine run parallel to each other, that taking I-90 will get you to Bellevue and Trophy Cupcakes is located in the University Village mall and oh my gosh, did you just hear that? I just knew so many things! Sometimes you will attempt to announce such victories to others. Prepare yourself for these sentiments to go over without even the slightest bit of interest peaked. “I took myself to Target for the first time!” You’ll beam. And your companions will barely look up from their laptops if they manage, “Target, huh. Cool,” their monotone revealing how massively unimpressed they are. But celebrate anyway.

And you’ll marvel a lot. Seeing so many things for the first time, every sight a first, you will find yourself fully awake and aware. You will not cease to excite at the sight of a mountain outside your car window, will enjoy imagining the steep hills are part of a driving course video game. You will feel the privilege of fresh perspective, will appreciate all the niche neighborhoods, the local boutiques, the overheard conversations of passersby, the composition of scenery. You will notice cultural trends: Subaru’s and Volvo’s and waiting centuries before accelerating at green lights, typical political views and rain parkas.

People will ask you “How do you like it here?” And you will respond affirmatively, if automatically, so as not to offend the locals. And still a part of you will feel like a fraud, will feel your fondness is unwarranted, your being a denizen of this locale far too abbreviated to sufficiently cultivate a love of place. And you will be warned about the gloom and darkness and perpetual drizzle of Seattle by every. person. you. meet. They will advise you to take Vitamin D throughout the 7 months of winter, and you will nod obediently, will immediately add a bottle full to your Amazon cart- express delivery.

And sometimes people may ask you where you’re from. And you will understand for the first time every person whom you’ve ever heard say, “well, originally…” because it matters. Because that place– the original– stays with you. It’s a part of you always, regardless of where you travel and how long you spend there. That place is your bedrock. And so you will, with more pride than you knew you possessed for the phrase reply, “I’m from Michigan.”

And you will smile inside. You will feel your deeply intertwined roots. You will feel buds broaching the surface. You will feel the foundation and the stretch. And it will be the feeling often described as so many vibrantly hued Monarchs quietly flickering away in your lower abdomen — featherweight wings which you hope never come to rest.

Image credit: Benjamin Matthew Evans

14 Comments

  1. ashley on October 1, 2012 at 7:59 am

    ok, so i knew you moved, but i need to do a little blog stalked to learn why! love this. moving from texas to indiana for college was a BIG change, but i think being in school helped with the transition. since then, i’ve lived in chicago and i do have a sense of pride about learning the city and feeling comfortable here. i think i’d be up for a move again, but i’ll have to talk myself up for it. we’re pretty comfortable here!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:03 am

      There really is a sense of pride that comes with learning a new city, isn’t there? It’s like proving to yourself you can master a new place. Awesome feeling when it comes.. waiting for it to arrive 😉

  2. Amye on October 1, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Beautifully written, thanks for sharing! You captured so much of what it means to move – beyond the packing lists, but just as important to consider when relocating.

  3. lizzy on October 1, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    what a wonderful post! i absolutely love your blog but never comment (sorries). i’m in the process of applying for graduate school out of state and just this morning, my nerves started to get the best of me, making me second guess myself. fearful thoughts like “but i’m so comfortable here” and “why would i want to move to somewhere cold” can sometimes drown out the excitement growing inside of me at the thought of doing something new. this post was just what i needed – thanks for keeping me inspired!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:05 am

      So happy it resonated with you Lizzy! I definitely know what it’s like to have those thoughts of reservations attempt to overshadow the ones of excitement. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of consciously pushing them away, knowing that they need to ignored from time to time.
      P.S. speak up more homegirl! Loved reading your comment.

  4. Sam Penner on October 1, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Love your meditations today. Living a familiar place (whether metaphorically or literally) for a foreign place is never easy- but almost always worth It when you realize your ability to jump outside your comfort zone and make it on your own. I’m proud of you, Annie!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:06 am

      This comment genuinely caused me to break out in a smile– thanks Sam!!

  5. Sarah Jensen on October 3, 2012 at 11:05 am

    “You will notice cultural trends: Subaru’s and Volvo’s and waiting centuries before accelerating at green lights, typical political views and rain parkas.” Love this. We noticed the same things coming from the midwest 🙂 Thanks for sharing this sentiment. So many of us can relate! Seattle will soon feel like home, but in a different way. And if you ever move away from the northwest, nothing will compare — such a lovely pocket of the US.

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:07 am

      Haha, glad to hear my observations validated. And yes, I have already begun to consider that. It really is a special, unique place in so many ways!

  6. Christie on October 5, 2012 at 10:54 am

    I moved to Olympia, WA in the mid 80’s and spent the first three months wandering around commenting on how green it all was. Breathtaking. We moved away in mid 90’s and I wax nostalgic on what a great town Oly is (and it’s bigger sister Seattle, and it’s distant cousin Puyallup – I worked there for awhile) and obviously…how green it all is. Loved your meditation.

  7. Sarah @ My First Little PLace on October 9, 2012 at 7:05 am

    Hi Annie, First time to your blog and I love it! And I think it was fate that I have come across your blog and read this post. About 7 months ago I moved (for the second time actually in 2 years) away from my home and I have been feeling whilst I am enjoying getting to know my new home, I can’t help but feel like I just want to go back home! 2 key things for that I guess, I moved for work (that I have lost passion for) and I’m single, so that gets really lonely. But I thank you for your Monday Meditation, it’s nice to hear I’m not alone no matter what country you’re in!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 11, 2012 at 10:17 am

      Hi Sarah,
      Thank you so much for your comment– so happy to hear that my post resonated with you; it serves both of us I suppose to hear that others feel similarly after a big move.

  8. Cerrissa on June 10, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    I just recently started reading your blog and thought i would do a search for some moving advice. Wow. I’m in the process of moving from Brooklyn to Seattle and I have had every single one of these thoughts. If one more person tells me about the gloom and vitamin D thing, i think i will go crazy (i’ve already upped my intake in preparation, ok guys?!). Thank you for all you well written posts and insights!

    • Annie on June 12, 2015 at 8:09 am

      Ha love this!! I’m still fairly convinced the “gloom” is just Seattleites way of keeping their city under the radar.. p.s. if you need any help/pointers/etc etc when you get to Seattle give a girl a holler!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply





Other Posts You May Love

14 Comments

  1. ashley on October 1, 2012 at 7:59 am

    ok, so i knew you moved, but i need to do a little blog stalked to learn why! love this. moving from texas to indiana for college was a BIG change, but i think being in school helped with the transition. since then, i’ve lived in chicago and i do have a sense of pride about learning the city and feeling comfortable here. i think i’d be up for a move again, but i’ll have to talk myself up for it. we’re pretty comfortable here!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:03 am

      There really is a sense of pride that comes with learning a new city, isn’t there? It’s like proving to yourself you can master a new place. Awesome feeling when it comes.. waiting for it to arrive 😉

  2. Amye on October 1, 2012 at 11:12 am

    Beautifully written, thanks for sharing! You captured so much of what it means to move – beyond the packing lists, but just as important to consider when relocating.

  3. lizzy on October 1, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    what a wonderful post! i absolutely love your blog but never comment (sorries). i’m in the process of applying for graduate school out of state and just this morning, my nerves started to get the best of me, making me second guess myself. fearful thoughts like “but i’m so comfortable here” and “why would i want to move to somewhere cold” can sometimes drown out the excitement growing inside of me at the thought of doing something new. this post was just what i needed – thanks for keeping me inspired!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:05 am

      So happy it resonated with you Lizzy! I definitely know what it’s like to have those thoughts of reservations attempt to overshadow the ones of excitement. I think sometimes it’s just a matter of consciously pushing them away, knowing that they need to ignored from time to time.
      P.S. speak up more homegirl! Loved reading your comment.

  4. Sam Penner on October 1, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    Love your meditations today. Living a familiar place (whether metaphorically or literally) for a foreign place is never easy- but almost always worth It when you realize your ability to jump outside your comfort zone and make it on your own. I’m proud of you, Annie!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:06 am

      This comment genuinely caused me to break out in a smile– thanks Sam!!

  5. Sarah Jensen on October 3, 2012 at 11:05 am

    “You will notice cultural trends: Subaru’s and Volvo’s and waiting centuries before accelerating at green lights, typical political views and rain parkas.” Love this. We noticed the same things coming from the midwest 🙂 Thanks for sharing this sentiment. So many of us can relate! Seattle will soon feel like home, but in a different way. And if you ever move away from the northwest, nothing will compare — such a lovely pocket of the US.

    • livesimplybyannie on October 3, 2012 at 11:07 am

      Haha, glad to hear my observations validated. And yes, I have already begun to consider that. It really is a special, unique place in so many ways!

  6. Christie on October 5, 2012 at 10:54 am

    I moved to Olympia, WA in the mid 80’s and spent the first three months wandering around commenting on how green it all was. Breathtaking. We moved away in mid 90’s and I wax nostalgic on what a great town Oly is (and it’s bigger sister Seattle, and it’s distant cousin Puyallup – I worked there for awhile) and obviously…how green it all is. Loved your meditation.

  7. Sarah @ My First Little PLace on October 9, 2012 at 7:05 am

    Hi Annie, First time to your blog and I love it! And I think it was fate that I have come across your blog and read this post. About 7 months ago I moved (for the second time actually in 2 years) away from my home and I have been feeling whilst I am enjoying getting to know my new home, I can’t help but feel like I just want to go back home! 2 key things for that I guess, I moved for work (that I have lost passion for) and I’m single, so that gets really lonely. But I thank you for your Monday Meditation, it’s nice to hear I’m not alone no matter what country you’re in!

    • livesimplybyannie on October 11, 2012 at 10:17 am

      Hi Sarah,
      Thank you so much for your comment– so happy to hear that my post resonated with you; it serves both of us I suppose to hear that others feel similarly after a big move.

  8. Cerrissa on June 10, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    I just recently started reading your blog and thought i would do a search for some moving advice. Wow. I’m in the process of moving from Brooklyn to Seattle and I have had every single one of these thoughts. If one more person tells me about the gloom and vitamin D thing, i think i will go crazy (i’ve already upped my intake in preparation, ok guys?!). Thank you for all you well written posts and insights!

    • Annie on June 12, 2015 at 8:09 am

      Ha love this!! I’m still fairly convinced the “gloom” is just Seattleites way of keeping their city under the radar.. p.s. if you need any help/pointers/etc etc when you get to Seattle give a girl a holler!

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply





Welcome

Search The Blog

Simplify Your World

Sign up for the email list to get inspiration and simplified tips sent right to your inbox.

On Pinterest

pinterest-1
pinterest-3
pinterest-2
pinterest-4

Other Posts You May Love