I have a problem. I tend to fall for places easily. For a person who isn’t sure they understand what love is or is even sure it exists in the way I believed it did as a child — I’m awfully quick to say I love a place. And quickly followed by a declaration of love is the proclamation that I am moving to the place that has made its rather swift home in my flighty heart.
This happened again yesterday. I fell in love with one village after another as I explored Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and Rutland counties in the Midlands of Great Britain. 
Great it was indeed to me. One stone house, after thatch roof, after aged but ornate detail impressed me to the point that I forgot my beloved NYC – and even found myself imitating a rather posh British accent that was good enough to fool a local or two.
I’m not kidding. (In hindsight I wish I was, about that last bit. How embarrassing!)
Does this ever happen to anyone else when they travel? (Not the accent! The other part.)
The last time it happened in real extreme to me, was of course when I was in Paris. How could it have not!
But what’s the consequence, if there is one?
If I am always leaving pieces of my heart wherever I travel, will I eventually have no pieces left to give anyone, or leave anywhere? Might I find myself one day with an inability to find wonder and joy in anything … might love lose every last bit of meaning it has and the idea of home become a permanently distant phenomenon …
I don’t have the answers, yet. But I do have my little spot in Stamford, “The Finest Stone Town in England” all picked out. This cottage should suit me just fine. Come visit when you can, eh?
I have the same problem. I become attached to a place and have conflicts between setting roots and fulfilling the wanderlust passion. Of course once I am in the next location it’s usually a no-brainer and the wanderlust has won me over, but there will always be the memories of where we did leave a piece of our hearts and when the time comes to settle we have a better idea where we will end up.
I think I understand Pete, I know you both loved NYC and could live there but I think what you’re doing is so wonderful because you are getting to actually LIVE in so many different places. You sort of have the best version of a life that isn’t settled yet has some settling to it. (If that makes sense!) Can’t wait to come visit you two in Turkey and experience a bit of that….hopefully tomorrow the flight stuff will FINALLY be resolved.
I was about to type “me too,” and then realized that I don’t quite do this any more, though I definitely used to, so perhaps that comes with age. I was in England last month in York and London and the Lake District, all three familiar to me. I adore the Lake District that I can say without doubt, and I love London and York, but where they would have tugged at my heart years back, now I’m happy to love them and leave them. Perhaps with age you begin the narrow down your definition of where you truly would like to think of as “home” or at least “possible home material!”
Oh, and bravo for “doing” the Midlands. It’s a largely unsung part of England. Although I’m English I scarcely know it, north and south, yes, Scotland even, but the bit in the middle, not so much. I’m sure it needs people to love it!
I have a feeling I would feel the same way about the Lake District, Linda. I sooooo long to go there. Glad you understand my problem, even if you have gotten past it so to speak!
The Midlands were lovely, I don’t know why anyone would not do them. But perhaps that’s just me.
I always imagine myself living in the place that I’m currently visiting. I even peek at real estate listings to see how much homes cost. I had a nice home picked out in Waterford, Ireland just last week. Oh, and you must come visit me in my house overlooking the lake and Remarkable Mountains in Queenstown. Pencil in a trip to Rio for Carnival. I have plenty of room in my apartment overlooking Lagoa.
Leah, I will gladly do a world tour and stay with you in all of those places!!!!! Haha! I’m glad you totally understand my “problem”.
Yeah I get that a lot, too. I could move to Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Berlin, tomorrow if I had the chance! Unfortunately I am not very good at a British accent, and that fails every time. 😉
I haven’t yet been to Amsterdam proper (only the airport too many times) or Edinburgh but I agree on Berlin as well. Le sigh. One life and so many ways to live it!! Glad it’s not just me who feels this way though.
Wow, how beautiful! I’ve never been here, but the more rural areas of England sure do have an unparalleled charm, don’t they?
They really really do! Put Stamford on your list for the next time you are in the Midlands, Kristin. I think you will enjoy it. Likely write a better story than I. I was there for such a short time I only know I loved it. But I wasn’t able to dig in to find a better story angle deeper than my adoration of the place generally.
sweet :: were you recognized on the street ?
LOL!!!! No. I’m not famous. Not even internet famous. But thanks for the comment Tom, long time since we’ve talked. Hope you are well?
Lovely photos – the black-and-white one of the relatively bare tree branches is my favorite. I think it’s ok to leave a bit of our hearts everywhere; it would be unnatural if we passed through without being affected in any way. I call it the Little Red Riding Hood of Wandering: crumbs of home everywhere.
I’m so glad you like that b&w image too Roxanne because it’s my favorite in this set but it seems to be less popular than the others 🙂
Also, I adore your theory of Little Red Riding Hood. I will indeed think of it this way now.
I love this post!! I do this all the time. I think I could actually be an aficionado on most places I visit as I get obsessed with them and start looking at everything from house prices to schools where I can send my imaginary children. It’s great though isn’t it? Much better to be interested than not!
Thanks for the comment! Yes, I agree — much better to be interested, than not.
Your photos are absolutely stunning! I have to proudly admit, I’m exactly the same way, on a smaller scale of course. I don’t get to travel much outside of the US (except for my once a year trips) but the trips I take in the US have me constantly thinking the grass is greener. I fell in love with the Spanish moss, cobblestone streets, and old world charm of Savannah. Instantly, I wanted to move there. Just last year, we visited Key West. Again, fell in love with the color, the ocean, the easily maneuverable streets. I have been [jokingly] begging my husband to move there since. I wonder if that side of me will ever find “home” at home…..
I, too, LOVE every place I visit, but, eventually, I start a “reasons why I couldn’t actually live here” list in my head – then it’s a little easier to leave. The exception was Hawaii – in Honolulu and elsewhere on Oahu, I really felt like I wanted to stay. I think it’s the air – the breezes coming over 1,000 miles of ocean (or more) are just spectacular. I should consult my manager about telecommuting with a six-hour time difference…
I love the photos – They really remind me of home. <3
I know what you mean about leaving you heart in places. I left my heart in San Cristóbal de las Casas and the consequence was that I wasn't able to stop thinking about it afterwards. Then, most recently, I genuinely fell in love with San Francisco and ever since I've returned from there, I've been a little depressed. :S