I often ask myself this question and I have used it as a journal prompt many times in the past. There are so many ways to define a home.
There is the house where I grew up. I lived there with my parents and my sister until I was thirteen years old. I have many memories associated with that house, yard, street, village. It felt like home at one time. Now when I visit, I feel like a stranger; everything has changed so much.
I often talk about Ireland as my home. I lived in Ireland for the first thirteen years of my life. I can still visit my granddad's house and feel like nothing has changed. It still feels like a home. When I visit I feel like I am going home, but when I leave I am also going home. Confusing.
Then there is the house where my parents live. I never lived there. I had already moved out before they bought it, but there is something about the house where your parents live that feels like home. Everything feels so familiar, so homey.
Now I have my own home. My husband and I bought a beautiful historic house, and we have filled it with our familiar, homey stuff. I can't imagine ever living anywhere else, although it is entirely possible that my life will take me somewhere else.
My home is over 100 years old and it's filled with antiques. I'm very comfortable in it, and I love spending most of my time in it. As a full-time writer, that's a good thing.
I think "home" for me has to be the place where I am most familiar with. As I grew up in Alaska, I think a large part of me will always consider that my true "home." Even though I am comfortable living where I live now, home is always going to be the place I grew up. Not necessarily my parent's house, but my hometown. I guess my "home" is larger than a house, but the portion of my home state where I feel most comfortable and know the best. Strange that I never realized that until now...
Visiting from A to Z. http://tantusamorscribendi.blogspot.com
I grew up in Pennsylvania but haven't lived there in more than a decade. My parents moved to another state as well. And yet, whenever I go back to that region, it always feels like going home.
After nearly 25 years in California, I find I still think of Washington State as home, though it really isn't. Sometimes I think moving at the wrong times in our lives can leave us without a clear home. Home, and not-home, at one and the same time. Rebecca
My home is over 100 years old and it's filled with antiques. I'm very comfortable in it, and I love spending most of my time in it. As a full-time writer, that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteMy house is also over 100 years old, built in 1904ish. I love it!
DeleteI think "home" for me has to be the place where I am most familiar with. As I grew up in Alaska, I think a large part of me will always consider that my true "home." Even though I am comfortable living where I live now, home is always going to be the place I grew up. Not necessarily my parent's house, but my hometown. I guess my "home" is larger than a house, but the portion of my home state where I feel most comfortable and know the best. Strange that I never realized that until now...
ReplyDeleteVisiting from A to Z.
http://tantusamorscribendi.blogspot.com
It's strange to think about and realize where we think of as home.
DeleteI grew up in Pennsylvania but haven't lived there in more than a decade. My parents moved to another state as well. And yet, whenever I go back to that region, it always feels like going home.
ReplyDeleteAfter nearly 25 years in California, I find I still think of Washington State as home, though it really isn't. Sometimes I think moving at the wrong times in our lives can leave us without a clear home. Home, and not-home, at one and the same time.
ReplyDeleteRebecca