I’ve moved 13 times in my life. That is quite a few. I would like to stop at number 14.
I’ve only dreaded moving a couple of times. Most often I have looked at it as an adventure and a chance for a new start. However, at 52 I’m ready to find a home. My forever home.
I’ve just marked 10 years in my current house. That is the longest I have lived anywhere. I know it sounds terrible, but my mantra for my current locale for the last five of those 10 years has been, “I just don’t want to die here.” This town is just not my jam.
So, this begs the question, if I don’t want to live where I am, where the hell do I want to be? I’ve lived in three places that truly felt like home in my life. Believe it or not, one of those was Japan. I know that seems strange for a Kentucky girl, but I would move back to Japan tomorrow if I had the chance.
Of the other two places, one is not the right place to return at this point in my life. The other is calling my name. I actually long for it. It is my happy place.
It is a small town in Eastern Kentucky where my mom’s family is from. Only my cousin and his wife are left there, but it still feels like home—or the closest thing to home I have ever felt. I also have tons of wonderful friends there that I’m dying to get back to.
I spent all my summers in this small town with my grandparents. I also went to college there. These are the best times of my youth. To this day the smell of walking into the local grocery store floods me with memories of my childhood and endless shopping trips with my granny. I’m the only person I know who tears up walking into an IGA.
As my husband and I get closer to retirement we talk a lot about where to settle down. Obviously, some of this decision depends on where our daughter will settle down after college. I don’t want to be on the other side of the world from her and possible grand babies—far in the future.
I do long for roots, something I don’t feel I’ve ever truly had. I envy people who love where they live and it is 100 percent home to them. I’ve never felt that much of a pull to a specific place. That being said, I have been tracking homes in this small town I want to return to for more than two years. So far, no luck. The real estate in this little college town is bat shit crazy.
I don’t know what is going to happen or where we will end up. I just want my place and to be surrounded by my people. People I can be myself with and not worry about all the judgment. I’m too old for that crap.
So, I will keep my Zillow search going and pray the timing works out and I can return to my little town with its wonderful people who accept this tree-hugging hippie just as I am.
Home may be where the heart is. It is also where you are just fucking comfortable and don’t dread going out in public.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
