Beautiful piece, enjoyed it very much. I'm British but have never felt like I truly belong here in the UK. Spent the past 3-4 years living between South Africa and Greece trying to feel into where is the right place. The chasing sun and interrupting the natural rhythms that the body needs resonated a lot.
I feel it's pretty normal to chase the sun after living in the UK, speaking from experience here! but yes, after a while it can be tiring. greece is a beautiful place that I still want to explore more.
Thanks Nikita for a fascinating piece.Another nomad here just over a year so far. It beats living in the UK. The compulsion to put down roots hasn’t gone away though but where??🐻
the where is a big question... I wish there was a place where I just knew it was "it", but instead I'm resorting to what makes sense (e.g. within the climate events) and what I like (e.g. being near the mountains, high quality cuisine and produce etc).
I feel u man! Lived in 10+ countries and over 70 places in 3 years before landing 2 years in Panama and now 1 year in Costa Rica. That craving to belong to a place is our deepest desire atm and I dont know how to ‘fix’ it. Thanks for sharing this honestly.
I see and feel every part of these many analogies and I am in the right place, literally and figuratively to hear this. And yes I’ve been chasing an eternal summer as well. Thank you Nik
Those kittens, this is a sign 😅 Those guardians of our being are really good at what they are doing (says a cat and dog lover - not owner, as we don't really own them). I like the flow of your text, and the accompanying photos, and how you are following what life asks of you, thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading
Although I haven’t moved across countries, I’ve moved states, towns, and cities alot throughout my life, starting in childhood as well. Counting I think 20+ moves. I’ve restacked your work because I’ve found that the pattern of always wanting to leave becomes its own loop and I’ve not seen many people address this in quite the same manner as you have, Nick.
Nikita, this felt so deeply lived. The six-euro eggs, the heavy keyring, the kittens, even the crooked curtain rail... all those ordinary details made the idea of belonging feel physical rather than philosophical. And I really appreciated that you didn’t romanticize either side of it. Leaving gave you so much, including the life you’re now considering staying for, while also becoming a way not to stay long enough for anything to ask something of you.
“Belonging is mostly weight you’ve agreed to carry” is such a beautiful way of putting it. Maybe roots really do begin this quietly: not with finally knowing where home is, but with going back to see whether Gianni got his tractor fixed. 🫶
Third-culture kid here too. I think it’s a way to force us to find our home from deep within.
I definitely felt my dive into spirituality came from that sense of feeling out of place
Beautiful piece, enjoyed it very much. I'm British but have never felt like I truly belong here in the UK. Spent the past 3-4 years living between South Africa and Greece trying to feel into where is the right place. The chasing sun and interrupting the natural rhythms that the body needs resonated a lot.
I feel it's pretty normal to chase the sun after living in the UK, speaking from experience here! but yes, after a while it can be tiring. greece is a beautiful place that I still want to explore more.
Greece feels like home to me. Enjoy the exploration.
such a lovely essay exuding so much transparency and vulnerability, well done
Thank you Vizi!
Thanks Nikita for a fascinating piece.Another nomad here just over a year so far. It beats living in the UK. The compulsion to put down roots hasn’t gone away though but where??🐻
the where is a big question... I wish there was a place where I just knew it was "it", but instead I'm resorting to what makes sense (e.g. within the climate events) and what I like (e.g. being near the mountains, high quality cuisine and produce etc).
Sounds perfect to me. Please let me know when you find it 😎
Beautiful section about the moment when the locals and non-locals took a new definition.
Ah good to hear, I contemplated removing it !
I feel u man! Lived in 10+ countries and over 70 places in 3 years before landing 2 years in Panama and now 1 year in Costa Rica. That craving to belong to a place is our deepest desire atm and I dont know how to ‘fix’ it. Thanks for sharing this honestly.
Belonging is a very interesting one…
I see and feel every part of these many analogies and I am in the right place, literally and figuratively to hear this. And yes I’ve been chasing an eternal summer as well. Thank you Nik
The eternal summer
Touched a tender spot for me as another half-something.
🫶
Those kittens, this is a sign 😅 Those guardians of our being are really good at what they are doing (says a cat and dog lover - not owner, as we don't really own them). I like the flow of your text, and the accompanying photos, and how you are following what life asks of you, thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading
They are the greatest teachers. Thank you
Although I haven’t moved across countries, I’ve moved states, towns, and cities alot throughout my life, starting in childhood as well. Counting I think 20+ moves. I’ve restacked your work because I’ve found that the pattern of always wanting to leave becomes its own loop and I’ve not seen many people address this in quite the same manner as you have, Nick.
I like the word loop, it’s very fitting
Just coming here to say that I wanted to read this but couldn’t because of the clay coloured font.
Thanks for the feedback ! Was it on mobile app , mobile browser or on the computer browser ?
Mob app
fixed now!
🙏 thank you
I relate. Much travel. American living in Madrid and now Albania.
Nikita, this felt so deeply lived. The six-euro eggs, the heavy keyring, the kittens, even the crooked curtain rail... all those ordinary details made the idea of belonging feel physical rather than philosophical. And I really appreciated that you didn’t romanticize either side of it. Leaving gave you so much, including the life you’re now considering staying for, while also becoming a way not to stay long enough for anything to ask something of you.
“Belonging is mostly weight you’ve agreed to carry” is such a beautiful way of putting it. Maybe roots really do begin this quietly: not with finally knowing where home is, but with going back to see whether Gianni got his tractor fixed. 🫶