Jamming the "home" button

"Home" is a fuzzy concept for me. Probably because it has changed so many times in the past few months, it's hard to keep it still/same for long enough. And if home is George Carlin's "place for my stuff", I am living all over the place!

NoVA, where I grew up, hasn't been "home" for a very long time. I haven't lived there in years; I kind of grew out of it; and more importantly, I found more personally relevant places. Almost instantly, Williamsburg became home. It was a safe place I could be unapologetically myself with people who were doing the same. The big sign that said "College of William and Mary" right before exit 238 always inspired a great sigh of relief. (Shame they changed it for the Quadricentennial.)

Then, I moved to Charlottesville. And I loved it there. I had great people around me, a "real job", pretty surroundings, a kitty to put me to bed, access to yummy food, and a "groove". So leaving Charlottesville was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. It taught me all about the concept "homesick" which I never really understood.

But after months in Chicago, finally feeling like I have figured the city out, and generally loving the city in the spring, things have gotten a bit muddled again. My favorite bed is my Chicago bed. I think in terms of Chicago time and accessibility (it will take me at least 30 minutes to get anywhere, but I am only 30 minutes from ANYTHING). I noticed this when I started traveling to/from Chicago for grad adventures. Because driving back from wherever I keep feeling a certain "Ah" when I see signs for Chicago. And I get excited when I cross the Skyway and see the little sign that says "Welcome to Chicago", with the skyline shortly after. Closely related to the excitement I felt the first time I crossed in.

And how cool is it that I don't have to mapquest my way into the city! That I know how to get "home". That I know alternate ways to get "home". Like my favorite - LSD! But that its own entry!

on the tube: ER (set in Chicago!)