One of the things that I'm most enjoying about this adventure, is the excitement of discovery.
I don't know about you, but I've been in a rut. I've lived in my town for almost my whole life, so it is not new to me any more. If I want a bagel, I know where to get it. If I need a quick run to the grocery at rush hour, I know which of the 4 grocery stores within a 2-mile radius of my house I should hit up. If I need kala namak, a specialty salt, I know where to go. If I want to plan a birthday dinner at a moderately-priced, moderately-nice restaurant that has vegan and non-vegan entrees, I know where to make reservations. If C and I are going out with Couple X, then I know what genre movie/music/event/food they like, and we make our plans accordingly.
I would imagine that is how it is for most of us. We find what works--or at least what worked once--and we keep doing that same thing. It's part of the ease (and autopilot) of life.
Obviously being in a new city, with no one that I know, means that I don't have this built-in knowledge base. Awhile back, C and I were reading through one of the Facebook expat groups and someone mentioned a free concert in the park put on by the Berklee College of Music here in Valencia. With no plans for the weekend, I decided to look up when they were having their next concert, and--lo and behold--it was tonight.
I believe that the concert was the final performance for a few graduating students, and it highlighted 3 different performers and their different styles. Some of the music I enjoyed, and some I didn't. However, the point is that I had to snap out of the mundanity of my life. I had to think and search out something to do, and I'm so glad that I did.
My Spanish teachers are amused because I come in with these things that I'm finding and doing and they have no idea of these opportunities in their own city. This will be something that we will have to watch as we start to establish ourselves in our new city; I hope to keep this newness and exploration around for a long, long while.
Some of you have reached out by private message or email saying that you are inspired by what we are doing, and are stuck but can't figure out what you can do. If you find yourself in a rut but cannot pack up for the other side of the world, I encourage you to start with your own city. Find something new to do this weekend. Search out activities that are happening right under your nose that you didn't even know were there. There isn't any cost in the search and there may not be any cost for the activities either. The concert was put on at the city's cultural arts center and was free as is the 3-artist exhibit running at the center currently; I picked up tickets for that when I went to the wrong door for the concert.
Have fun. Explore. And please, send me message to let me know what you find.
As beautiful as simplicity is, it can become a tradition
that stands in the way of exploration.
~Laura Nyro
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