Everywhere Can Be A Home

It’s that time of year when everyone starts reflecting on the year that is passing, and the milestones they’ve accomplished.

For me, my reflections will come later. I moved to Istanbul on January 29, 2013, so the end of January seems like a more appropriate time to reflect on the year in review, on the experiences and accomplishments and small disasters of the 365 days previous.

But as December comes to an end, I’ve realized this is the first time that I’ve been in the same place for a full month since JUNE. I’ve finally had a chance to settle into my apartment, to rebuild my routine, to contemplate the adventure of stillness. Though it feels lovely, I’m thankful to have a year’s worth of wild trips to reflect back on (and the time for reflection). I’ve discovered this year that staying flexible and open makes almost any space a home, even if it’s for only a few nights.

This year I stayed in such a wide range of accommodations, from a wooden cabin in the Kabak Valley to a guesthouse in Urfa to 5-star hotels in Sri Lanka, that openness and flexibility became a necessity. I enjoy the adventure and everywhere has its own benefits. For example, I stayed in a luxury hostel in Penang that was calm, cool, and quiet; the real highlight was that everyone in my 6-person room was a girl traveling solo. We formed a little gang, banding together to visit gaudy temples and crash Chinese New Year celebrations.

Or in Prague, where I stayed in my friend’s apartment in the neighborhood of Holesovice. It allowed me to pretend I was still living in the city. I didn’t meet travelers the way I might have in a hostel, but I didn’t want to: I saw the highlights of Prague when I first moved there in 2008. Instead, I was able to immerse myself immediately into local life and head off on the sort of weird little adventures I love in Prague.  I stayed on a friend’s couch in Boston too; that city was once mine but now I only visit, so staying in a cozy apartment near Coolidge Corner let me slip right into the routine of riding the T and shopping for groceries.

Generally, I prefer to pretend I live in cities. Living like a local in Athens was a little tricky since I’d never been there, but thanks to a gorgeous Flipkey apartment near Syntagma Square, my girlfriends and I were able to make a temporary home for ourselves. We spent mornings working in the sunshine-drenched common space or drinking red wine together at the table, plus there was enough space to hang on to our privacy. We could wake up early to see the sunrise from our balcony and stumble home late at night and eat Greek doughnuts. When one of the girls sprained her ankle, it was great to have a homey place she could rest in. I plan on renting an apartment the next time I travel with friends; it worked out perfectly. 

I think back on all the spaces I’ve called home this year—and there are many; I’ll talk about the Sri Lanka hotels in future posts—and I’m thankful that I’ve somehow gotten to a place where anywhere I travel can become my home, even if it’s temporary. It’s a grand old world out there, and I’m so glad to be part of it.

Happy Holidays, friends.

Thanks to FlipKey for the complimentary stay in our Athens apartment. All opinions are my own, naturally.