I tried to make a list of all the cities I've walked in. I still haven't finished, it just keeps growing. I don't feel I've traveled that much. Is it just because I've lived so long? I'm not that old, either. I was moved about as a child, and have never really grown roots. I don't think I truly understand belonging to a community, or committing myself to one place, or to anything, really, except for family - and inconsistently even there. I did live for 21 years in Austin, Texas, until my son was grown to independence. I moved away at the drop of a hat, not even saying goodbye to the love of my life, who was overseas at the time. I haven't spoken to him since.
I think Samuel Johnson said, to paraphrase, that "When one is tired of London, one is tired of life". London is my favorite city in the world, but I have spent enough time there, and walked the streets so often, that I could imagine a time when I would grow tired of London. I wouldn't mind having the opportunity to test that hypothesis, though.
I've tried establishing myself in one city, putting down roots. I join organizations, I volunteer. Then I leave. I fell in love with Seattle and vowed to make it my home. I knew I would have trouble gaining acceptance, and that my accent would forever mark me as an outsider. I wanted to earn my citizenship in this city that I love, so I practiced a form of immersion. I volunteer for habitat restoration. I serve on a citizens advisory committee for the public utility. I paint facilities for the homeless. I offer pro-bono professional services to non-profits, and serve on committees for my professional organization. I attend my Community Council meetings, and many other meetings of local organizations. I threw myself in. And I still, quite often, have the urge to chuck it all and become a wanderer, as I have done before, living only with what I can carry on my back. There are still so many cities to walk in.
I think Samuel Johnson said, to paraphrase, that "When one is tired of London, one is tired of life". London is my favorite city in the world, but I have spent enough time there, and walked the streets so often, that I could imagine a time when I would grow tired of London. I wouldn't mind having the opportunity to test that hypothesis, though.
I've tried establishing myself in one city, putting down roots. I join organizations, I volunteer. Then I leave. I fell in love with Seattle and vowed to make it my home. I knew I would have trouble gaining acceptance, and that my accent would forever mark me as an outsider. I wanted to earn my citizenship in this city that I love, so I practiced a form of immersion. I volunteer for habitat restoration. I serve on a citizens advisory committee for the public utility. I paint facilities for the homeless. I offer pro-bono professional services to non-profits, and serve on committees for my professional organization. I attend my Community Council meetings, and many other meetings of local organizations. I threw myself in. And I still, quite often, have the urge to chuck it all and become a wanderer, as I have done before, living only with what I can carry on my back. There are still so many cities to walk in.
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