Home Is Where The Heart Is
- Jul 28, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 6
"Home Is Where the Heart Is" is a quote and theme that I've been thinking a lot about lately. Recently, this came forward in a coaching group I was leading and the participants all had a different idea of what this meant to them. Me too.
I find that my heart feels differently wherever I am.
SANTA MONICA
I LOVE my home in Santa Monica, and that love has grown and grown over the years I have lived there. This was my first, solo apartment -the one I lived in on my own. I have to give credit to my Mom for finding that rent control place in Santa Monica, right next to Clover Park and adjacent to the Santa Monica Airport, and encouraging me to move in, right away. Back then, the rent was $480 per month! I think I was making $500/week as a production assistant in the entertainment industry and my jobs were never stable. But, I took a leap of faith, which paid off, but not at first.
Over the years, I judged my apartment and myself, a lot. This apartment is so small I would think, and compare myself to friends and acquaintances who were lawyers, or in other jobs that paid more, and afforded them bigger places, or even houses. I felt embarrassment about bringing people over to entertain - where would everyone sit, how could I fit everyone in here? I felt a lot of judgment about bringing guys over - once they saw my place, would they want to continue to date me?
I held all these limiting beliefs for so long, and the truth is, they weren't true. I am who I am, and the truth about me is not contingent on how big, or small, my apartment is. The ironic piece to all this is that I didn't really think I would still be living where I am, in my 50's, but I can't imagine living anywhere else. I was able to buy my rent control apartment, and my mortgage will be paid off in a few more years. I live on a quiet, tree lined street, next to a huge park (with tennis courts!), and in walking distance to amazing restaurants, local coffee shops and quaint stores. Mark Twain Middle School, where I am a 6th grade teacher, is a mile away. My brother Lon always comments about how I have the best commute in LA. But, strangely enough, one of the things that brings me the most Joy
about my little, one bedroom bungalow, is that everyday, twice a day, at 10:00 am and at 4:00 pm, a dozen birds descend upon the bougainvillea tree in my back patio, and their singing lightens my heart, every single time.
Sammy on the couch in Santa Monica
LJUBLJANA
Recently, my heart has a found a new, part time home, in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I've traveled here for the last four years, and for three of those years, for seven weeks at a time, I've rented different Airbnb's throughout the city. On reflection, the apartment that holds a special place in my heart is Marko's Place, my first Airbnb.
MARKO'S PLACE
My first Airbnb was at Marko's Place. This was the Cosy spacious condo in the city centre.
Up four flights of stairs (in older buildings, if there are four floors or less, no elevators allowed), with no air-conditioning, I loved this garret like apartment, on the very top floor - kinda like the penthouse, without all the luxuries. But, you don't know what you don't know, and I didn't know to find out if what I was renting had an elevator or air conditioning. Of course, now I know these things. But, despite these hardships, I loved this apartment.
My apartment is at the very very tippy top!
The amazing recycling system in Ljubljana
Here's the link!
Location, Location, Location
The location of this Airbnb was fantastic - a three minute walk to the main bus and train station - they sit next to each other. Now, I know what you may be thinking. Ewww! The bus station. The train station. In most cities around the world, staying near these transportation hubs is bad news. Seedy characters. Ugly surroundings. Cheap hostels. Well, not here. The bus station is tiny and small and clean with a very nice coffee and pastry counter inside. And, the train station is in an old and architecturally magnificent building. Very safe, very clean, in a nice neighborhood. And, on the day I was heading back to the United States, all I had to do was walk my luggage and Sammy three minutes to the bus station, and pay 4.10 Euros to sit in a clean and air-conditioned luxury bus which took me to the Jože Pučnik Airport.
Ljubljana Train Station
The main bus station
The sweet and small airport
A Guiding Light
As I would walk the city, one beacon for me was the newly built, 5 star InterContinental Hotel, which sat at the end of my street. My street! Whenever anyone asked me where I was staying, all I had to say was, "Do you know where the InterContinental Hotel is? That's my street!" And, of course, everyone knew the InterContinental, the most luxurious, and only 5 star hotel in Ljubljana.
My street!
Another perk to this location was the five minute walk to a fantastic movie theatre that sells coffees and beers and has an outdoor cafe. The most I've paid for a movie there was 5 Euros and I was able to choose my own seat and everything. Food and drink are not allowed inside, but that's okay. The theatre is immensely clean and the seats incredibly comfortable.
Doget!!!
But, the best news about that neighborhood, and one of my fondest memories of that time, was our nearly daily trip to Doget Pet Store. Sammy was certainly happy about this, as every employee in there was super friendly, not only to dogs but to people too. The people being me! Sammy got lots of treats, both given freely and bought by me. I even found a leash with the kind of handle I like. I've looked all over LA for this kind of leash, that unhooks at the handle in order to tie around a table leg, but I haven't been able to find them anywhere. (Simona, who lives in Ljubljana and has her own blog about dogs, insists I can find these leashes in the US....) And, due to our trips to the pet store, Sammy has grown in his tolerance for other big dogs; at least when we are in Ljubljana! In Doget, Sammy and I made some great friends - him big dogs named Oli and Ziva, and me, Simona, who worked there part time while finishing up law school.
Sammy, with the leashes
Simona, with Ziva
On a walk with Simona, Oli and Ziva
Back to Marko's Place
It was here, in this apartment, where I first started writing this blog. I would walk the city with Sammy in the mornings, and come back to the apartment and write in the afternoons. I loved this routine, and the writing came easily. I had set my intention to write a blog, and I did. (Thank you, Mariel, for helping me to set up the blog!!!)
But, I think the thing I loved best, and why I cherish my memories and time at Marko's place the most was that I was living a dream I had held for so long; a dream to one day live in Europe. And, here I was, in my un air-conditioned, 4 story walk up apartment, in the city centre of Ljubljana, and loving every minute of my experience. Another intention set and met. Another goal reached. My heart opened. My soul elevated, just a little bit more.
And You
But, now I'm curious...... What's a dream that you've had for a while now? What are you holding on to that you'd love to see happen?
Let me know, if you're willing....
Love,
Lynn
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