Turn and face the strain, ch ch ch changes

You'd think we really enjoy change, considering the frequency with which we move around. My sister wanted to know who we were on the run from! Moving house is actually one of the most stressful activities one can engage in. It's up there in the stressful stakes with loss of a loved one, yet we do it so often, you'd think it was like changing clothes.

I'm not sure what the deeper significance of all this moving around has for us. I read somewhere that if you move around a lot as a child, you tend to continue this pattern as an adult too. Brian and I both moved a lot as kids, so that's consistent for us. I added up all the times we have moved house since Sophia was born, and it averages out at once a year for her, this year being her ninth. It will be interesting to see if she lives out this pattern as an adult.

A significance this move has for me, is that I've returned to my hometown, completing a huge circle which took me across Australia, to Asia and the U.S. and back again to Brisbane. I guesss I've baulked at the idea of 'going back', like it's akin to taking a big step backwards in life. That was part of the reason for not wanting to settle in Brisbane when we arrived here after living in the U.S. the first three years of our marriage.

We had several compelling reasons to move from our last house and from the Gold Coast as a region. It's frustrating how those reasons may have provided us with heaps of impetus to move, but reminding ourselves of them does not diminish the stress experienced, or the great sense of loss felt with leaving behind the familiar.

There are many things we miss about the Gold Coast already, including people and places.

It will take time to find new friends, new favourite restaurants, places we enjoy spending time together.

I suppose all we can do is venture out into our new environment with open minds and hearts and be kind to ourselves, that we are all a bit vulnerable at this time.