Six months ago I left Madrid and all the outstanding people I got the opportunity to know there, to continue my travel on this journey. It was really an easy move since I could continue at same work but in a new location since we were opening a new office here. It was the right moment, it was like the gut feeling already had decided. Once here the first thing we did was to go to the beach. We sat down on one of the close by terraces, sipped some white wine. Smiling, talked calmly, long breaks in between while we overlooked the sea. I remember thinking about how funny things can turn out. I was more than satisfied.

Not long thereafter, due to changes of responsibility at work, I also got the opportunity to go back to Madrid now and then. In practice this turned out as having me working in Madrid every second or third week. Even though it has been a lot of effort I am immensely thankful for this since it has made the transition of moving less painful. Just like the move I did three years ago, when I went home to Sweden almost once a month due to various occasions. And it has most certainly led some more eventual chapters in my life. On the other hand, nothing worth having comes for free.

It takes time to get to know a new city. It takes time to really get to know people below the surface. And it most certainly takes time to travel. To not say energy. And even though I have lived here for six months now I realize that I have still not let go of my earlier city completely. Physically I might have been leaving here for some time now but in my mind I still have not let go. Sometimes what one needs is a wake-up call.

I prefer to live like I learn, so maybe it is about time I do so.
“Ichi-go ichi-e“, as expressed on the original language.