My entire adult life, I've been looking forward to the next move. It's been one year here, a couple years there, and then on to the next place. The longest I've planted roots anywhere since undergrad was four years in St. Louis, where I managed to stay for an additional two years after finishing up grad school. In between was a year in Wilmington here, a year in Nashville there, and some time back home with the parents in Georgia. Even growing up, I knew I was unlikely to stay in the same area once I finished high school. It seems that, as long as I've been old enough to decide where I live, any place I've called home has been a temporary stop.Philadelphia is the first place I've ever lived that I knew I wasn't planning to leave. When Dan and I decided it was time to leave St. Louis behind, we agreed that we were weary of the moves. For us, Philly was the perfect choice--solid job opportunities, amazing history, beautiful architecture, great culture and food, and an opportunity to live on the East Coast in a big but relatively affordable city. The fact that Dan had nostalgia for Philadelphia didn't hurt, as he was born here and spent many a summer in Philly visiting his grandmother, munching on soft pretzels, and being treated to oversized drinks at the Philadelphia Zoo.
Not long after we moved into our first apartment in Philly, we knew we were unlikely to stay in the same neighborhood. Like so many moves, the first place you live is rarely where you stay once you have more opportunities to explore. As we learned more about the area, we spent our first year here thinking about where we'd go next. And so there I was, once again, looking for that next move.
And now, here we've been for six months in the little town of Media, PA. The town that we think will be our last stop. Though we always imagined ourselves living in the heart of the city, I've found that the slower, smaller pace here suits me so much better. We have all the things that matter the most to us: walkability, local businesses, a feeling of community, access to public transportation, a liberal streak, and a "downtown" that makes everything feel centralized instead of sprawled. The people are friendly. The town is big on the arts. There's a festival or event almost every weekend, and a farmers market every Thursday. And the fact that they close the main road in summertime and bring tables out into the street for "Dining Under the Stars" just warms my little heart.
For the first time--ever--it seems that I'm going to stay. And lately, all I can think about is wanting to really become a part of this place. I'm so ready to belong to a community, and one that I know I can truly become a part of for the long haul. The other day, while I was out running, someone from my church passed me on the street and gave me an enthusiastic wave. My excitement was palpable: This is my town! I see people I know when I'm out running!
Though it's happening slowly, I can't wait until we have the familiarity that only comes with having been in a place over time--that familiarity with a place that I haven't had in years. I can't wait until we can really get to know our neighbors. Until we have the festivals that we go to every year, and the local business owners that we chat with while popping in to buy a greeting card or a bagel (because Media is a place where that sort of thing actually happens). Until we have the places that we start to call "ours." Until we have memories that can only be connected with our own hometown. Until we buy a house. Until we plant a garden in our own backyard. Until I can really sink my fingers into the earth of this place.
