Suitcases

There's a box inside my parents' garage that houses our camping gear and all of our suitcases. I have become very accustomed to this particular location in the garage -- it's where I would go each time I was getting ready to head to Boston or to Costa Rica, or even for the quick trips to Grandpa and Grandma's house. This weekend I got our our tent out for a weekend camping trip and as I was moving the suitcases around to get to the tent, I realized that I don't have any immediate plans to be using my suitcase.

And I felt a great sense of relief and peace about that.

I realize that's not a common feeling -- aren't most 20-somethings just antsy to move and go and be anywhere but in a familiar place? Granted, I still want to travel and have dreams of living abroad short-term for Spanish language study. I'm counting the days until I head east to see my friends and watch the sunrise on the North Shore. But I feel enormously grateful right now to be in one place without a need to be packing and unpacking, purchasing plane tickets, and transitioning from one home to the other.

My suitcase carried my heart from place to place and got all my clothes and jewelry and favorite sweaters and Lauren Conrad jeans safely across the miles. I never once lost a suitcase in my travels, and was always quick to spot a ginormous bag with a purple ribbon tied around it (strategically thought of by my mother for easy spotting) as it made it's way through the carousel.

Each time I got from Santa Barbara to Boston or Boston to Santa Barbara, I was quick to unpack in this specific way:
Step One: dump all of my crap out on the floor
Step Two: quickly put the suitcase away (in the garage, or under my bed at school)
Step Three: unpack

I always wanted that suitcase out of sight as quickly as possible...partly because I am a bit of a neat freak and like things to be put in their place as fast as possible. But the other reason is that I wanted to quickly acclimate to my new place and not think about the next time I was moving again. The suitcase sitting in the corner of my room would just remind me that I had to pack and unpack again and that just sounds a bit exhausting.

Do I sound like a an old lady who has reached her "travel limit"? Maybe...but that's not my point. I've discovered that traveling from place to place is beautiful and the places and people you discover along the way is incredibly meaningful. I've also discovered that planting yourself in one place is a good thing too and for me personally, gives a sense of peace and excitement for investing in a community in one place.

I don't know how long I'll be here, but I'm thankful that for now, the suitcase can stay in the garage and be used for shorter trips instead of the long and tearful goodbye ones. I'm thankful for the chance to invest in relationships in Santa Barbara and to be close to family. I miss so much about the East Coast, but I am at peace with being here and letting this become my home. Thanks be to God.