It is a rare occasion when Brad is sleeping and I am not, but one that happens more often when we are not together. (I am not quite the “perfect sleeper” on the road that I am at home.)

I have been traveling this week, and after several weeks of not getting on a plane, it has been more of a jarring transition than usual. The more I am at home, building, and focused on our little world, the more I centered I feel.

Still, being away from home gives me a different perspective and a chance to reflect.

A couple years ago, I had a memorable conversation with someone about trying to eliminate the “noise” in life, living in the now, and finding one’s deeper spiritual self. At the time, I was searching for a place (identifying critical criteria, thinking about the pros and cons of a major change in lifestyle, contemplating what I really wanted out of life…lots and lots of columnar lists), thinking that if I could this perfect place, it would facilitate some shift in consciousness for me. This person assured me that what I was looking for would not come with a place but only within myself.

Somehow, though, place has become  a very important part of this segment of my life journey (just as it was with Africa). I feel this acutely when I am somewhere else, like here in a bustling city with all of its distractions. They quickly edge in on my own sense of self.

I don’t think that place has everything to do with where I am as a person right now, but so much of it is tied to place. My relation to things like work, other people, creative endeavours,  politics, the global environment, etc. all seem tied to place.

I feel very fortunate to have found  a place that works for me (and especially thankfully for Brad too) and what I want out of life right now.