Relocating

Sometimes, circumstances require us to consider relocation at a time when we least expect it. The reasons vary — changing circumstances, a need to realign new priorities with geographic location, or simply the need for a reset. Often, it is all of these at once. This is the situation I found myself in.

Relocating: The Early Years

When I was young — elementary school, middle school — my family moved quite a bit. Moving was never easy, but at that age, you knew new acquaintances were never far away. You would meet kids at school, others in your neighborhood, and before long, familiar faces would appear around every corner. I became comfortable with starting over at a new destination. It was by no means painless, but I was young, resilient, and could adapt.

Later in Life

As one gets older, relocation takes agility and adaptability to another level entirely. If you are still in your career when you move, the dynamic shares something with those school years — built-in connections appear naturally through coworkers at the new location. The workplace becomes building blocks for a social life, whether you intend it to or not.

Relocating After Retirement

Relocating after leaving a career brings an entirely distinct set of challenges. There are no built-in acquaintances — no classroom, no office, no ready-made community waiting at the door. New connections must be built one at a time, drawn from whatever sources present themselves. It requires intention, patience, and no small amount of courage.

Relocating and Defying Gravity

Gravity, under the laws of physics, keeps us from flying off into space. In a sense, a form of gravity holds us where we live. Without it, what would keep us rooted to one place rather than drifting aimlessly from one location to the next?

This social gravity grounds us. It is made up of friends, family, community, accumulated life experiences, and the deep comfort of familiarity — the coffee shop that knows your order, the neighbor who waves from down the street as they walk the dog you know the name of, the streets you could navigate in your sleep.

To move, one must defy the gravity that keeps them where they are.

Floating Around in Space

I miss the forces of gravity I left behind. There are moments when I feel as though I am floating — weightless, untethered, searching for something solid to hold onto.

But by defying those forces, good things are slowly building. I find myself stepping outside my comfort zone, seeking out the gravity that will one day anchor me here. Reinventing how I spend my time. Building community. Meeting new people. Reclaiming a sense of familiarity, one small experience at a time.

And so, I keep extending my hand, keep introducing myself, keep beginning again.

Which is why I so often find myself saying —

“Hello, my name is……”