The author, shown while in transit on a train, said that every move feels a bit like starting over.
Courtesy of Shannon O'Brien.
She arrived in Malta on a Thursday, and by Friday, we were stretched out on one of the island's pale limestone beaches, watching the water shift from turquoise to deep blue at the horizon.My best friend of 24 years was visiting from San Francisco, where she has lived since we graduated from college. She was impressed by the beauty surrounding me in my new Mediterranean home, but at some point, she looked at me and said, "You're missing your people here."She wasn't wrong.Over the years, I've lived and worked across Myanmar, China, Angola, the British Virgin Islands, Malta, and a handful of other countries. The brochure version of this life is peppered with quaint local markets, passport stamps, and the pride of being someone who chose differently. That version is real, but there's something else, something that lives just under the surface of all that freedom that isn't as exhilarating.
The author, shown looking out over cliffs in Malta, said she enjoys the adventure part of moving around a lot.
Courtesy of Shannon O'Brien.
