Paul Johnson

Finally wandering around: 10/10, would recommend

Thursday 23rd May You know the area you're moving to a little bit, before you move, you'd hope.  

The distance to the railway station, to the last shop open for bread or milk, to the nearest petrol station, to the playpark(s, if you're lucky), to the best cafes... 

These are all considerations you make, before entering the closing date lottery for a new home; blind-bidding, playing cat-and-mouse with yourself, psyching yourself up for yet another post-rationalisation for why you were unsuccessful, another commiseratory B&J's Phish food on standby for you and your partner. 

Then, eventually, (if you are lucky) you are successful.  And after the fixing up and clearing out and weeding and humphing, painting and plastering, it is yours. 

I didn't realise how little I actually knew of the place before moving though.  And even having moved.  Having a reason, like this megamiles challenge, to get out and see things makes you realise that you never actually needed a reason.  It makes you realise that seeing things can be the whole point, if you like.  Bumbling about, checking stuff out, smiling when you meet a stranger, saying hello the next time and chatting about the scent of the rhododenrons and asking their dog's name.  Seeing deer scatter as they thought their domain was free of stompy humans in the drizzle or blackbirds deftly picking bugs from the edge of a yellow lily's leaves on a riverbank or having staring contests with masticating Fresians in fields you didn't realise were so nearby.  

I am grateful that I got the chance to know better where I am, where I now live.  A home is a memory you carry with you and a community is a collection of those memories; I understand both now, better than ever.  Share