tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061975013568215898.post1803987739066532796..comments2020-10-19T23:48:01.161-04:00Comments on A Nomadic American Odyssey : Photo-of-the-Week #259 Reconnecting – Uncle Pete's House, Garfield, New Jersey, September 2013Ed Helveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061975013568215898.post-89773369783532788882016-04-18T17:12:32.735-04:002016-04-18T17:12:32.735-04:00Thanks for your thoughts, Lois. In many ways - pro...Thanks for your thoughts, Lois. In many ways - probably most ways, I resemble your remarks. Going back over my life, since birth, I've moved about every 3.25 years on average. The longest I've lived in any one place was 8 years and the shortest was about 1 month. You probably have friends like I do who grew up in one house, eventually took the house over from their parents and lived in that house most of the rest of their lives. So, perhaps, they may have lived in two or three places during their entire lifetime. I guess mobility and the nomadic lifestyle work well for me (and you) because we've moved so many times. It's the same with vehicles. I've had about 24 vehicles since age 17. I have many friends who have, perhaps, had 5 to 8 vehicles during their lifetime. <br /><br />Here's the thing, Lois, I believe an excellent exercise for people like us is to write our memoirs, an autobiography, if you will. Not because we'll necessarily want to publish it, but because it is a picture of our lives from the earliest we can remember. Then as we're traveling, seek out people, names that may have fallen into some dusty corner of our memories. First, it's interesting to see how their lives turned out, but at the same time, you get to do that reminiscing that will jog your memory about other people, events, things and places. Each connection you make will potentially spark another one. The only place I've ever lived and not been able to revisit is the place my parents lived when they brought me home from the hospital after I was born. There is only one living person I know of who knows that answer to where that is. Everyone else is long gone. It's my aunt, my mother's sister. And she's the only member of the family, I really don't want to have any contact with. But, she harbors a secret I would like to have to complete my history of residences over my lifetime. <br /><br />I've been reconnecting with so many people since I went gypsy. It's fantastic. But, now that I have been writing this reply to you, I just thought of one other possible place that just might have that missing address - IF they still have records dating back that long ago. (Even the hospital where I was born is gone.) See what fun this can add to the gypsy life? We can become detectives of sorts. Keep on keepin' on.<br /><br />Lf&bh,<br />EdEd Helveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061975013568215898.post-16397494406491270812016-04-18T14:40:30.620-04:002016-04-18T14:40:30.620-04:00Great post, Ed. I've found that my nomadic lif...Great post, Ed. I've found that my nomadic lifestyle has resulted in fewer people that I can reminisce with, and as I've gotten older, far fewer people who have known me for any length of time and that minimizes the reminiscing as well. I've never stayed longer than a few years in any given place, although I've lived in "areas" for up to 10 years at a time; it doesn't make for any long-term relationships. I miss having those conversations that start off with "remember this?" and then head down a now-funny path, but I don't regret all the decisions that led to being a gypsy. There's a balance somewhere... and I've yet to find it, although I more and more am leaning towards deciding that "balance" is not what it's all about anyway :D<br /><br />Thanks for the story! Rock on!Loishttp://www.playinganewgame.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061975013568215898.post-11125417273950053382016-04-18T11:56:19.367-04:002016-04-18T11:56:19.367-04:00Absolutely! Amen, Richard.
Lf&bh,
EdAbsolutely! Amen, Richard.<br /><br />Lf&bh,<br />EdEd Helveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11995821240780553373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6061975013568215898.post-41842147454089847882016-04-18T10:34:10.934-04:002016-04-18T10:34:10.934-04:00I also believe looking back on all the way your li...I also believe looking back on all the way your life has unfolded benefits you. I find it provides perspective. The farther back I see complements how far forward I am able to anticipate what will happen when making a decision. Another term for it is wisdom derived from experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com