This was so fun, guys! What a great way to showcase a city's unique eccentricities. I'd be all over the biblioteek too — looks so fancy! The library in Valencia was maybe the only thing I was slightly disappointed in. And @Emanuela I love that you took your tomato seeds from the Netherlands to replant them in France! That is such a beautiful way of bringing home with you.
The library really is a beating heart in the center of town. It was so cool to share our experiences back to back and see which things linger for her and which stand out early on to me!
I'm still here in the States (goodness help me!), still in New England, so I can't say I'm an expat, but I do have things and places here that help ground me and make me glad to be here. My own backyard has all sorts of birds and insects singing 24 hours a day, except in winter - though even then the barred owl wants to know, "Who cooks for you?" I even saw a huge snowy owl swoop silently over my head one night, perhaps an expat from Canada? I put out hummingbird feeders to supplement the natural and cultivated flowers, and we're rewarded by a beautiful acrobatics show every day from late spring to early fall. My husband has become more interested in the natural world during his marriage to me, and has been discovering all sorts of critters I'd never seen - just last night, he went out for a late-night walk and returned with footage of a snowy tree cricket he'd found in our backyard - they are very tiny, but very loud! We hear the loons warbling in the early mornings and evenings. I love this place.
I haven't been able to go for the past few years, but I love visiting Lake Winnipesaukee, too. If you find a part that's still wooded and natural, it's easy to see why the Abenacki called it the "Smile of the Great Spirit."
Last thing is a question. I've read that tomatoes are perennial if they're grown in warm climates. Have either of you seen this? I love the idea of an everlasting tomato plant...
Thank you, Jeanning, for your beautiful description—I felt as if I traveled with you! As for the tomatoes, we save the seeds each year for the next. A sort of perpetual tomato!
That kind of sanctuary is essential for a home! And I love that you’re still finding new and exciting things—I can hear that NH nighttime if I think about it!
I can’t say for sure about tomatoes, but I like to imagine the lilacs I planted in Manchester as still flourishing!!
Love this! It's so special when you and a friend share a mutual love for a particular place. The forest looks so shimmery and grounding. And the biblioteek looks like a great place to get inspired to write. The libraries in Mexico are also such a grounding anchor point for me.
Really enjoyed this piece, I find these insights fascinating and so revealing.
I'm not sure if I have an anchor necessarily, and this may be a roundabout way of addressing this - if I'm in a writing funk, I find a good pub with a beer or two to get the creative juices flowing works like magic, I seem to do my best work amidst that type of noise. Otherwise, my anchors are my daily routines I like to have wherever I go, which is my morning coffee and dedicated reading time. Nothing revolutionary, but it keeps me grounded. I get antsy if I can't do this every day.
Absolutely agree, Daniel, routines are essential in my life too. They’re the cement holding together a busy work life and the space I need for creativity.
I totally understand both the “shake the funk” strategy and the routines. Starting your day with a ritual or making an everyday action into one really makes a huge difference in feeling grounded!
Hi wauw! After traveling for some time, a brief episode living in France (wasn't for me..) I moved this year from Amsterdam where I used to live 10 years, to smaller Leiden, that is super close to Den Haag! Totally understand Rotterdam, Amsterdam vs Den Haag .. I am not a super duper city person any more but I do like the vibes of Den Haag, I'd love to get a tour and meet up!
I often visualize an anchor when I meditate. I experience it as a feeling mostly. I love the idea of anchor places. I’m going to sit with that and think what places anchor me. Love you guys, miss you every day.
This was so fun, guys! What a great way to showcase a city's unique eccentricities. I'd be all over the biblioteek too — looks so fancy! The library in Valencia was maybe the only thing I was slightly disappointed in. And @Emanuela I love that you took your tomato seeds from the Netherlands to replant them in France! That is such a beautiful way of bringing home with you.
Curious to know what will become your anchors in Valencia 🤩
Same!!
The library really is a beating heart in the center of town. It was so cool to share our experiences back to back and see which things linger for her and which stand out early on to me!
It sure looks it! I would absolutely be hanging out there all the time!
I'm still here in the States (goodness help me!), still in New England, so I can't say I'm an expat, but I do have things and places here that help ground me and make me glad to be here. My own backyard has all sorts of birds and insects singing 24 hours a day, except in winter - though even then the barred owl wants to know, "Who cooks for you?" I even saw a huge snowy owl swoop silently over my head one night, perhaps an expat from Canada? I put out hummingbird feeders to supplement the natural and cultivated flowers, and we're rewarded by a beautiful acrobatics show every day from late spring to early fall. My husband has become more interested in the natural world during his marriage to me, and has been discovering all sorts of critters I'd never seen - just last night, he went out for a late-night walk and returned with footage of a snowy tree cricket he'd found in our backyard - they are very tiny, but very loud! We hear the loons warbling in the early mornings and evenings. I love this place.
I haven't been able to go for the past few years, but I love visiting Lake Winnipesaukee, too. If you find a part that's still wooded and natural, it's easy to see why the Abenacki called it the "Smile of the Great Spirit."
Last thing is a question. I've read that tomatoes are perennial if they're grown in warm climates. Have either of you seen this? I love the idea of an everlasting tomato plant...
Thank you, Jeanning, for your beautiful description—I felt as if I traveled with you! As for the tomatoes, we save the seeds each year for the next. A sort of perpetual tomato!
That kind of sanctuary is essential for a home! And I love that you’re still finding new and exciting things—I can hear that NH nighttime if I think about it!
I can’t say for sure about tomatoes, but I like to imagine the lilacs I planted in Manchester as still flourishing!!
I go to sit by the Mississippi back in Minnesota all the time, in my mind. Also the wonderful library in Maple Grove with the walking pond outside.
I also carry a mental anchor: a seaside spot in my home region. It’s my safe place whenever the outside world feels heavy!
We share Minnesota—I love it! I visit the Sculpture Garden and Minnehaha Falls myself!
It is so true, I have my anchor places in Frankfurt and Turin, two cities that i lived in and that are in my heart.
Friends there come and leave but the anchor places are always there to remember me of the nice old times with them❤️
I know what you mean—I have such fond memories of the time I spent in Rome that whenever I see it in a film or a photo online, it feels like a gift!
I’m so glad the piece resonated with you! Celebrate the anchors whenever you can—and set new ones wherever you are!
Love this! It's so special when you and a friend share a mutual love for a particular place. The forest looks so shimmery and grounding. And the biblioteek looks like a great place to get inspired to write. The libraries in Mexico are also such a grounding anchor point for me.
It is such a fun connection. I loved your piece about spots that have power for you—thanks for checking ours out!
In each city I lived the first place I visit is the library !
Really enjoyed this piece, I find these insights fascinating and so revealing.
I'm not sure if I have an anchor necessarily, and this may be a roundabout way of addressing this - if I'm in a writing funk, I find a good pub with a beer or two to get the creative juices flowing works like magic, I seem to do my best work amidst that type of noise. Otherwise, my anchors are my daily routines I like to have wherever I go, which is my morning coffee and dedicated reading time. Nothing revolutionary, but it keeps me grounded. I get antsy if I can't do this every day.
Absolutely agree, Daniel, routines are essential in my life too. They’re the cement holding together a busy work life and the space I need for creativity.
I totally understand both the “shake the funk” strategy and the routines. Starting your day with a ritual or making an everyday action into one really makes a huge difference in feeling grounded!
Me too! Most likely not the library though 😅
Hi wauw! After traveling for some time, a brief episode living in France (wasn't for me..) I moved this year from Amsterdam where I used to live 10 years, to smaller Leiden, that is super close to Den Haag! Totally understand Rotterdam, Amsterdam vs Den Haag .. I am not a super duper city person any more but I do like the vibes of Den Haag, I'd love to get a tour and meet up!
Wat leuk! Yes, let’s make that happen!! Tell me what you’d like to see and we will walk the town!
Leiden is such a lovely little town—enjoy it!
I often visualize an anchor when I meditate. I experience it as a feeling mostly. I love the idea of anchor places. I’m going to sit with that and think what places anchor me. Love you guys, miss you every day.
I also visualize my mental safe place during meditation: I can hear the waves and breathe in the scent of iode in the air.
Anchoring is always helpful in meditation, and finding a few places that give you that feeling might be a nice way to make a few visits.
Miss you like crazy pants ❤️❤️❤️