I have often wanted to disappear or emigrate. I get excited, research where and when, and more. Then I remembered that I'm no spring chicken and will have to set up doctors, dentists, and more in this country that looks so appealing. And there will be a language problem.
So I crawl back into my everyday life and decide to live out my remaining years the best way I can - where I am.
When I was growing up my family was such a violent mess, that I constantly planned abandoning them and changing my name. I kept imagining it would just take a change of haircut and color...
And after thinking of the great reinvention escape.....the words I've read and heard spoken countless times emerge in my mind. "No matter where you go, you'll always be with yourself." We can never leave who and what we are behind.
Yes! I've come close when I moved to Japan and went by a slightly different name. I had no cellular phone and it felt like a blank slate. I think it's healthy to reinvent yourself when you need to. But, I can completely understand paranoia around Google and social media. It's surveillance capitalism until we all disconnect.
I'm fascinated by this idea. I feel like the modern day equivalent that I'd be able to do would be head on some sort of self-designed quest – like the prolific naturalists going off on an around the world exploration – "Sorry, I must leave and go study obscure turtles in some river basin". (Or Lord Debling..) I'm not sure that I could adequately disconnect from the internet to make it worthwhile..
Years ago, I created a secret identity, like a Starbucks coffee name or a secret sharer… (no, it’s not Leggatt but only English majors would get the joke and there are too many of us, so disappearing would be … 😀) Still, I could slip into the identity tomorrow but I would have to walk away from an entire life.
I have often wanted to disappear or emigrate. I get excited, research where and when, and more. Then I remembered that I'm no spring chicken and will have to set up doctors, dentists, and more in this country that looks so appealing. And there will be a language problem.
So I crawl back into my everyday life and decide to live out my remaining years the best way I can - where I am.
I hear you. 💙
When I was growing up my family was such a violent mess, that I constantly planned abandoning them and changing my name. I kept imagining it would just take a change of haircut and color...
And after thinking of the great reinvention escape.....the words I've read and heard spoken countless times emerge in my mind. "No matter where you go, you'll always be with yourself." We can never leave who and what we are behind.
Yes! I've come close when I moved to Japan and went by a slightly different name. I had no cellular phone and it felt like a blank slate. I think it's healthy to reinvent yourself when you need to. But, I can completely understand paranoia around Google and social media. It's surveillance capitalism until we all disconnect.
That sounds so dreamy. I love Japan
And that’s often been my preferred destination to flee, should I ever be bold enough.
Or you could come there o Australia, land of the world's first people. It's another world in a good (and bad) way.
I'm fascinated by this idea. I feel like the modern day equivalent that I'd be able to do would be head on some sort of self-designed quest – like the prolific naturalists going off on an around the world exploration – "Sorry, I must leave and go study obscure turtles in some river basin". (Or Lord Debling..) I'm not sure that I could adequately disconnect from the internet to make it worthwhile..
I really wish they’d formalize sabbaticals for everyone.
Years ago, I created a secret identity, like a Starbucks coffee name or a secret sharer… (no, it’s not Leggatt but only English majors would get the joke and there are too many of us, so disappearing would be … 😀) Still, I could slip into the identity tomorrow but I would have to walk away from an entire life.
That is awesome!