Finally Home – Relocating to Seattle: a personal journey

My mother found me hiding at home behind a stack of moving boxes at age 2, crying. She recalls underestimating how the commotion of the movers and boxes and things being packed away (or given away!) would impact me as a young girl.  That was my first move – Cold Spring, NY to London England. Bewildered. Overwhelmed. Uprooted.

As a child, most moves I had no say in. I just followed along and learned to adapt. (The story is not a sad one after all. This flexibility and ability to assimilate has served me well in many aspects of my life.)

London to Tokyo. Tokyo to London. London to Kuwait, displaced by the Gulf War (that was a tough one and deserves it’s own blog post!). Kuwait to New York. New York to Boston…..

The last move I made was as an adult from Leysin, Switzerland to Seattle in 1999.  This move was a defining one for me because it was one that was deliberate and calculated.  I wanted to find roots. I yearned for a place that had community, opportunity for deeper friendships and ultimately a peace in my restless heart. My mother was born in Everett WA and perhaps by my returning to her home, I could find my own.

As with most Third Culture Kids (and eventually third culture adults!) we get a traveling “itch” after 2-3 years.  Because of this, we are used to a constant state of transition – always looking ahead to the next adventure. Our internal clocks start ticking and the feeling of restlessness kicks in. Moving might be difficult but staying in one place was doubly hard for me.  In Seattle I had to bury that itch knowing that if I continued to uproot myself, I would be unable to nurture the roots I so desired.

I have been in Seattle 19 years now (YIKES!) and it is the longest I have ever lived anywhere.  One of the ways I scratch the “itch” is by throwing myself into jobs that allow me to connect with a global community and keep cultural connections alive. I escape by taking a trip somewhere energizing to feel the rush of excitement that comes with new smells, new food and new people. In Seattle I channel the itch by living in different parts of the city. Each neighborhood I have called home has it’s own personality and I love being able to share that with others. The cacophony of Lower Queen Anne, the diversity of Mt Baker, the peacefulness of Whidbey Island, the quirkiness of Fremont, the easiness of Tangletown and the family friendliness of Mercer Island.

Seattle has changed exponentially in the last 19 years. Tech innovation has brought a multi-cultural vibrancy to the streets and an explosion of the food scene. The influx of newcomers has brought significant gains to public transport and dueling “downtowns” in Seattle and Bellevue with a plethora of urban living opportunities.  What has not changed in the time I have lived here is the natural beauty bringing people to the water, the mountains and the trails; progressive politics, the relaxed pacific northwest vibe, the career opportunities, the passion for civic and human rights, and the diehard sports fans.

Seattle has become mine through friendships, volunteering, school, work, coffees, children, hikes, cooking and the passage of wonderful time….  Content. Rooted. Home.