If you could live anywhere, where would it be? someone asked me recently. And I start to think about it.
It’s been too long since we’ve been on a holiday. It doesn’t seem very likely for the new future in the present circumstances. If I could I’d love to go to some place with a beach or beautiful hills. If I could, I would go to a place that has both – beautiful Goa.
Where Would It Be?
A while ago, I wrote this short piece on Goa. A friend reminded me of it and I thought I’d share it with you today.
Green and red. Two colours that strike me. Green the color of life, of growth. Red, the colour of blood. Another symbol of life. A symbol of love and passion too.
I have never seen such beautiful, verdant, emerald fields like these. The emerald palms too wave in the breeze, welcoming me, beckoning me to stay.
Nor have I seen the Earth so red. So alive. So fertile.
Both colors stir a longing in me. A yearning to find out more about this land. A need to get more in touch with myself.
And as if this wasn’t enough, there’s vast expanses of blue – the unending horizon of the ocean, reminding me of the largeness of the Universe, inviting me to get lost in the eternal love of the Creator.
This is the land of my ancestors. Though they haven’t lived there for generations, their blood running through my veins, recognizes the call of this land, inviting me to call Goa my home.
That longing aside, the place I really choose to be in at this time is home. You might laugh and say what other choice do I have during this lockdown.
But home has not really a ‘place’ for me. I’ve had too many moves growing up to identity home with a location or a house. Home, for me, is a place I can be myself in. A place where I feel safe. A place I feel loved and secure.
“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
― Maya Angelou, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes
Your turn now. If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
“Home, for me, is a place I can be myself in. A place where I feel safe. A place I feel loved and secure.”
Beautifully, succinctly, perfectly said, Corinne!
If i could live anywhere, it would be a place which is surrounded by nature and a lot greenery. That is where i can truly be myself and feel joy. I am taking my steps to reach that place.
I would love to be home and that home should be in the mountains. Unlike you, we never moved growing up. I started moving when I was 17 and some days I have this urge to change where I live.
I loved the pictures you shared. All so green and happy.
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“The unending horizon…inviting me to get lost in the eternal love of the Creator!” What a wonderful feeling Corinne! I remember many of those lines and I loved reading them again.
My favourite place is home too but I dream of a home with huge trees around it, trees which are a home for birds and squirrels and colourful insects. I right now live in the midst of a noisy city with a noisy crowd around.
Hi Corinne – you’re so right about wanting to be safe at home at the moment – I feel the same way. There are many beautiful places that I’ve visited in the world, and yet I always feel such a sense of peace when the plane lands back in Australia and I’m back on home turf. In these turbulent times, being in my own little home with my husband and cats, knowing that my family is safe in theirs’ makes me very content indeed.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM
If I could live anywhere, it would be at least part of the year in my home town, as well as the place where I live now and have for almost 34 years. As it is I spend a lot of time in my home town in my thoughts and even more now in writing and blogging. But I feel that same pull that you describe. Thanks for your post, nice to “meet” you.
Blessings, Michele
If I could live anywhere then it would be – honestly I’m not sure. I always went with the flow and was never given a choice like that in my life. I like living in the Us – in Phoenix – but it comes with its own share of problems. I like that I’m away from the prying eyes of relatives, but that puts me away from my friends too. I loved living in Kerala for 22 years and in Bangalore for 2 years. May be, I can be home anywhere I am! As you said, if it makes me feel secure then I’m home. ❤️
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I miss traveling. If I could live wherever I want it’s some house on the mountain with scenic view around.
My husband and I recently moved to Florida from Connecticut. Closer to where we want to be, but still not there. But I am also one of those people who want to move to most of the places I travel to. I find something beautiful and lush about each area that makes me want to stay awhile.
Yes, home is the place where I’d choose to be always. However Goa holds a very special place in my heart because that’s where we have our family meetup as and when possible. My memories of Goa mean having my favourite people all together in one place along with the sea and sand. I loved that description you quoted.
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You are right, the call of the home is strongest for me too! I love being at my parents’ place down south in a village in TN too! Just the two places where I can totally relax!
True. There are some parts of Goa which are still untouched. I was particularly impressed by For Aguada and its surroundings. This was in 2013.
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HI Corinne I feel like you, that home is not a place but where you can be yourself. I’ve had several moves in my life so haven’t really put down roots. I think it is so important to be happy in ‘self’ rather than in a place or through possessions. Thank you for linking up at #MLSTL and have a beautiful weekend. xx
Oh, Goa is my favourite place, too. I’m planning to retire there!
I always wonder why everyone is so crazy about Goa. Don’t get me wrong I love it too for the food, beaches but I couldn’t really find a good enough answer except for beach shacks and booze for most of the people who claimed they love Goa. But in your post Corrine I could find that honest answer , home is where the heart is.
The Goa you are talking about is the tourist version, Akshata and that’s crazy. Goa is to be discovered in the villages, the music, the lilt in the voices, the food and like I said I guess the draw is the fact that it’s where my ancestors were from.
I feel the same way. I moved around all the time when I was a child too. You make a great point. Home is not a building or a location. It is where we are happy and safe. Nice post!