20. Moving: an interlude
the wonder & the horror
I write this week from within the brain haze and rat-like cardboard box tunnels and corridors of a household move. My spouse and I relocated from the far, far suburbs of Portland, OR to within the city limits.
Moving is one of those paradoxical experiences that is at once invigorating and exciting while also being a huge, unremitting pain in the ass. I’m destabilized and don’t know which of the dozen or so boxes currently filling our living room contains the Magical Mermaid Orange Dreamsicle toothpaste I recently bought. However, temporary inconvenience and exhaustion are worth it for the benefits of relocating.
There are many reasons for our move, and some are more directly tied to my writing/literary life than others. (I’d happily hear an argument that all parts of my life inform my writing in some way or another, but let’s not get sidetracked…) I’d like to share a few of the most literary coded reasons that come to mind:
Walking distance to a killer indie bookstore
In my opinion, Annie Bloom’s is one of Portland’s best! They are highly community focused, hosting lots of readings and events, and partner with Street Books, another gem of a literary org in Portland.
Opportunities for spontaneity
If I come across an invite or event last-minute, no longer do I need significant advance notice. No longer will I need to budget an hour of travel time before and after each activity. I can get to Powell’s downtown in less than 15 minutes, and afterwards, I can come home and wind down before my early-bird bedtime. BEAUTIFUL. Maybe I’m just touting the benefits of living in a city again. So be it. It’s true, and I’m excited about it.
Proximity to nature
This feature might not have an obvious connection to writing, but it’s one of the most important. The natural world is my form of spirituality, and while I don’t need a national forest at my back door, I do need a place to worship, if you will. Historically, I’ve found this type of space in the following: a wetlands preserve; a tiny, trash-strewn grove of cedars behind my apartment; open sage foothills unfurling for endless miles; beside a booming waterfall; by a slippery river under a freeway.
In our new spot, a tributary of Tryon Creek runs past our door toward the natural area just a few miles away. Apple and pear trees grow in the backyard. Leaving behind the garden beds and Douglas Fir trees at our old place has been the hardest part of moving for me, hands down. But I’m eager to get to know this new pocket of the land and its creatures, and no doubt come to love them just as deeply.
Maybe you love moving. I do, too, but I also really hate it, as discussed above. As I get older, I feel a stronger pull to put down roots in one spot and tend to that spot as best I can. Maybe you relate? Let me know.
Take care.
AK
If you are wondering, the average price of my preferred coffee (black decaf Americano, like a serial killer) is currently $4.08, according to the first link I clicked on at the top of my Google search.
The natural world as a place of worship—I very much relate! I’m so glad your Portland move is moving along! Hooray for close proximity to reading and lit events!
Portland is a special place, since you can walk to an indie bookstore AND a nature trail. Usually you have to settle for one or the other!!
But yes, I believe in having your surroundings support your creativity. Whether that is extensive space outside to wander your own property, or a walkable urban neighborhood where you can visit a coffee shop without getting in your car.
Best of luck on your move, and can't wait to hear how it inspires your writing!