What a lovely piece, Monique ... I was a 'military brat' and I served for 30 years so the constant moves resonate.
The 'where' we want to live and the 'how'. What a great question in life ... I think the 'how' wins out - we are trying to live in a spirit that suits us; somehow we manage to be 'us' wherever we end up ... settled (for now) with the land and the growing seasons and nature on the doorstep, but craving water and hills ... and some more roaming.
And an analogue desk ... yes, yes! What a great idea.
I hear you on the 'how'. We have a lovely house on a decent on a suburban block that's 10 mins drive from the beach. For this area, it's a larger than average block - newer houses are on tiny blocks of land and so close together. We do crave more space - especially now that another noisy set of neighbours have moved in - but one week it's near the beach and the next we want rolling hills and trees.
So, we have to create nature on our doorstop and we have a lovely garden out the back. I'm looking at it now, waving in the wind. And we try to focus on the HOW as much as possible.
We try to think of ‘here’ as a basecamp knowing we can travel and try ‘other heres’ and new places confident that we have our ‘how’ sorted. Bon chance.
Hi Monique - I can so relate to where you're living and the slowing down and the desire for less - but for more at the same time - less hustle and bustle, more space, more air to breathe. The housing market has messed with a lot of people's plans, but it also gives time to think through what is really wanted, what is necessary, what makes for a "home". I hope you find your happy place - we live in the SW of the state and I don't think I could ever live in the city again - even though my adult kids think it's the place to be.....
Hi Leanne. Our happy place is Bridgetown ~ that’s where we had planned to build. We still hope to move there in a few years - we just need to be patient. I’m heading there for an author talk in April, which will be lovely. The SW is a stunning corner of our state and I’m glad you get to appreciate it every day.
We owned an acre block in Bridgetown and we planned to build our retirement home on it.... but reality overtook the dream and we sold it a few years ago and stayed put. It's a very pretty town and it's where my husband and I met :)
I’ve moved house fourteen times in my life, three before I can really remember. I’ve lived in four different Australian states and the UK. The best thing about moving is that everything is new, even if it actually isn’t. It’s like being on holiday for a little while. But then you can’t find where you put the spatula in the kitchen, or which cupboard you should put your towels in. You wake up in the night and feel disoriented because the bedroom door’s in the wrong spot, and your best friend now lives on the other side of the country 🙁
But life is new and different and exciting and lovely and before you know it, you’ve lived there for twelve years!
Yes, I know what you mean about the "holiday" feeling at first ... but the novelty definitely wears off and then the distance and difference really makes itself known. I've now been in Perth 22 years, after never wanting to move here, and I feel so grateful to live here. Although, today, at 42.7C (so far), I'm not so sure...
Thanks so much, Sasha. I'm really enjoying writing this way - I feel like it suits the time and capacity I have available at the moment. Next week I'll have some blinds up that will allow me to see the garden all the time.
PS. There's a post called "No I'm not writing about Gaza" (Laura Kennedy) that you might find interesting.
Monique - I really enjoyed reading this. I have moved 27 times throughout my life, about half of those during my years in the Navy. I am going to take some time to explore this topic in my journal, as your article definitely brought up some thoughts. One of the things I long for the most is a home where I know I am going to stay and put down roots and have a garden, and grandkids will play under the trees. No place has felt like that, as every place we lived was transitory. Thanks for this thought-provoking essay.
Thank you so much, Matthew. 27 times!! I think those who have lived the military life really get how it feels to never feel attached to a place (or you think you can't let yourself be attached). You learn that most friendships during this time are also transitory.
I have now been in Perth, Western Australia for 22 years and in my current house for 15 years. The house, the garden, it has changed and grown with us, as a family, a couple, and now empty nesters. Writing about it made me really appreciate what I have.
I hope you find your nest in a "tree with deep roots".
Thank you, Monique, I love the idea with the two desks! And I love your photos, especially the seed pod one!
What I loved moving into our new home was enjoying emptiness and space. The first weeks when it was still empty enough without all our old clutter lining the walls! Just a reading chair in the corner, a table and chairs in the dining room. Emptiness. It was a lovely zen feeling I wish I could have kept 😇
Thank you, Almut. I have been thinking a lot about the empty canvas of a new space.
This weekend I decorated my space wit black and white photos from my recent trip to Germany - I spent a month there in December. You may be interested in my reflections - there are posts on Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and surrounds (and also Strasbourg). Here's one, in case you have time to sit in your reading chair today: https://moniquemulligan.substack.com/p/musings-on-travel-3-munich
What a lovely piece, Monique ... I was a 'military brat' and I served for 30 years so the constant moves resonate.
The 'where' we want to live and the 'how'. What a great question in life ... I think the 'how' wins out - we are trying to live in a spirit that suits us; somehow we manage to be 'us' wherever we end up ... settled (for now) with the land and the growing seasons and nature on the doorstep, but craving water and hills ... and some more roaming.
And an analogue desk ... yes, yes! What a great idea.
I hear you on the 'how'. We have a lovely house on a decent on a suburban block that's 10 mins drive from the beach. For this area, it's a larger than average block - newer houses are on tiny blocks of land and so close together. We do crave more space - especially now that another noisy set of neighbours have moved in - but one week it's near the beach and the next we want rolling hills and trees.
So, we have to create nature on our doorstop and we have a lovely garden out the back. I'm looking at it now, waving in the wind. And we try to focus on the HOW as much as possible.
We try to think of ‘here’ as a basecamp knowing we can travel and try ‘other heres’ and new places confident that we have our ‘how’ sorted. Bon chance.
Hi Monique - I can so relate to where you're living and the slowing down and the desire for less - but for more at the same time - less hustle and bustle, more space, more air to breathe. The housing market has messed with a lot of people's plans, but it also gives time to think through what is really wanted, what is necessary, what makes for a "home". I hope you find your happy place - we live in the SW of the state and I don't think I could ever live in the city again - even though my adult kids think it's the place to be.....
Hi Leanne. Our happy place is Bridgetown ~ that’s where we had planned to build. We still hope to move there in a few years - we just need to be patient. I’m heading there for an author talk in April, which will be lovely. The SW is a stunning corner of our state and I’m glad you get to appreciate it every day.
We owned an acre block in Bridgetown and we planned to build our retirement home on it.... but reality overtook the dream and we sold it a few years ago and stayed put. It's a very pretty town and it's where my husband and I met :)
Wow, such a similar story!
I’ve moved house fourteen times in my life, three before I can really remember. I’ve lived in four different Australian states and the UK. The best thing about moving is that everything is new, even if it actually isn’t. It’s like being on holiday for a little while. But then you can’t find where you put the spatula in the kitchen, or which cupboard you should put your towels in. You wake up in the night and feel disoriented because the bedroom door’s in the wrong spot, and your best friend now lives on the other side of the country 🙁
But life is new and different and exciting and lovely and before you know it, you’ve lived there for twelve years!
Thanks for sharing this Monique 🌻
Yes, I know what you mean about the "holiday" feeling at first ... but the novelty definitely wears off and then the distance and difference really makes itself known. I've now been in Perth 22 years, after never wanting to move here, and I feel so grateful to live here. Although, today, at 42.7C (so far), I'm not so sure...
I'm with you there! I love Perth, but not the 43C days!!
Beautiful. And your photos are divine. Love the new space.
Thanks so much, Sasha. I'm really enjoying writing this way - I feel like it suits the time and capacity I have available at the moment. Next week I'll have some blinds up that will allow me to see the garden all the time.
PS. There's a post called "No I'm not writing about Gaza" (Laura Kennedy) that you might find interesting.
Thanks!
Monique - I really enjoyed reading this. I have moved 27 times throughout my life, about half of those during my years in the Navy. I am going to take some time to explore this topic in my journal, as your article definitely brought up some thoughts. One of the things I long for the most is a home where I know I am going to stay and put down roots and have a garden, and grandkids will play under the trees. No place has felt like that, as every place we lived was transitory. Thanks for this thought-provoking essay.
Thank you so much, Matthew. 27 times!! I think those who have lived the military life really get how it feels to never feel attached to a place (or you think you can't let yourself be attached). You learn that most friendships during this time are also transitory.
I have now been in Perth, Western Australia for 22 years and in my current house for 15 years. The house, the garden, it has changed and grown with us, as a family, a couple, and now empty nesters. Writing about it made me really appreciate what I have.
I hope you find your nest in a "tree with deep roots".
Thank you, Monique, I love the idea with the two desks! And I love your photos, especially the seed pod one!
What I loved moving into our new home was enjoying emptiness and space. The first weeks when it was still empty enough without all our old clutter lining the walls! Just a reading chair in the corner, a table and chairs in the dining room. Emptiness. It was a lovely zen feeling I wish I could have kept 😇
Thank you, Almut. I have been thinking a lot about the empty canvas of a new space.
This weekend I decorated my space wit black and white photos from my recent trip to Germany - I spent a month there in December. You may be interested in my reflections - there are posts on Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and surrounds (and also Strasbourg). Here's one, in case you have time to sit in your reading chair today: https://moniquemulligan.substack.com/p/musings-on-travel-3-munich