A few weeks back I launched on unsuspecting friends and family about my decision to move to Australia – my second move in 2 years. I literally travelled across the globe – Houston to Singapore to Gladstone. Quite a journey if I say so myself.

I loved watching/hearing our friends/family/acquaintances react to the news. There is surprise, excitement, craziness, I-do-not-believe-its, shock and more. All of them are genuine. There are friends who believed that I finally “settled down” in Singapore for good. There are those who assumed I will get back to Houston. There are those who think I need to see more places. There are few who cheer for and few who wish they were in my shoes.

Most of them do not understand – they don’t understand the irresistible urge I often feel to get away from anything called “settling down”. I feel panic and fear rise up as they talk about settling down in a place. I feel unsettled at the thought of permanence.

I on the other hand, do not understand how people are content to live in one place all their lives. I tried doing it. Putting down roots, buying a home and getting involved in a community. It seemed the right thing to do. But the older I grow, the more the urge to abandon the norms engulf me. I want to go, see, explore and enjoy the world with my family. There is a pleasure in discovering and settling in. There is an excitement in boxing up and moving away.

What surprises me is the way I changed. I was not like this 7 years back. I craved acceptance and community attachments then. The years, the experiences and the people who drifted in and out the past few years have left a mark on me – an intangible mark. One I am extremely grateful for. They brought in me a realization that everything in life including life is transitional. A fake permanence does not appeal to me.

I travel in search of the elusive but as I travel I savor the moments and ensure I create memories. I soak in and live the moment while I look forward to the future. Vacations to exotic locales as great they are do not give me the opportunity to search of the elusive.

Here is to the elusive and doing what you always want.

I am just a wanderer

seeking solace in words

words that cleanse my soul

words that describe the longing

the pain

the joy

I wander

not because I have to

but because I want to

I wander

to see the unseen

to experience the untold

I wander

to relate

and to question

I wander

I celebrate

I cherish

I live.