When I was growing up my parents and I traveled around the world never settling in any one place for more than a year. I grew up roaming the streets of Europe not realizing that mine was not a normal childhood.
Traveling rarely meant hotels it usually meant crashing with friends, or house-sitting for other friends while they were away. I have always wondered if on those occasions they really needed a house sitter or were just doing Mom & Dad a favor.
At any rate, there always seemed to be people about and underfoot, whether it was the family we were staying with or friends over visiting.
One of the things I have come to appreciate the most in my life is silence and solitude. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy spending time with friends and family but I need space to breathe here and there. Sometimes I just want to be alone with my thoughts. Now, as an adult, I have chosen to make my home my sanctuary, my safe space if you will. I do share the space with my husband but he is comfortable doing his own thing and letting me just be when it is what I need.
One of my dearest friends is quite the opposite, she is uncomfortable without people underfoot and constant noise, to the point she rents rooms she does not need to rent out to college kids just so she can be surrounded, as she puts it “ by the chaos of youth”
A part of me envies her, I wish chaos was more calming but for me, it is not. Give me the whisper of leaves on the wind or the soft purr of a cat in a quiet space and I will be free. Give me my sanctuary.
