I started packing today. After 15 weeks in Nelson, it’s time to move on. This is the longest I’ve stayed in one place in almost six years. The only other time that comes close is the 2021 Auckland lockdown, and I think we can all agree that being forced to stay in my small van in a paddock in Pukekohe is very different from choosing to spend this time in a beautiful house in sunny Nelson. In other words, the lockdown doesn’t count as staying put.

After moving around so much for the last six years, being in one place this long has been interesting. Over the last few days, as I was starting to get ready to move on, I’ve been reflecting on this time. I thought I’d share some of those reflections.

Time is a funny thing

On the one hand, time has flown by. It feels like just last week that I arrived here and unpacked my things. But at the same time, life before Nelson feels like a long time ago. I look back to where I was in April, and I can’t believe it’s only been five months. Time is a funny thing!

One of the things I love about housesitting is how it makes me super aware of how fast time goes by. Whenever I arrive somewhere – whether it’s for four, eight or 14 weeks – it feels like such a long time. And then, before I know it, I’m packing again. It’s like a little wake-up call each time. A reminder that life is going by fast and that I have to make the most of the time I have. I value those regular reminders!

A tale of two phases

Reflecting on my time here, it feels like there are two distinct phases. For the first two months or so, everything was exciting and new. I was super excited about exploring the area and was out and about on my bike, paddleboard or foot almost every weekend – and sometimes during the week as well. It felt exciting and energising.

As time went on, I started to feel more comfortable. Everything started to feel familiar. I could get around town without needing Google Maps. I started to return to the same places instead of exploring somewhere new. I was less motivated to go far on the weekends and spend more time closer to the house (or even just at the house). Life felt comfortable but not particularly exciting or energetic.

These two phases remind me of the difference between visiting somewhere and living somewhere. It’s no surprise that people who have travelled in an area have often seen more of it than those who live there.

The longer you stay somewhere, the more it feels like home, the more it feels comfortable rather than new and exciting – and with that, the urge to explore declines.

Comfortable isn’t always better

Comfortable sounds good, right? Well, as I was reflecting on all of this, I realised I kind of liked the first phase better. It’s nice to feel comfortable and at home somewhere, and I love having my go-to place for coffee, food shopping, activities and more. But if I’m perfectly honest, I must admit that it feels a bit boring. I miss the excitement of the first half. I miss feeling that energy of being somewhere new.

I like being a nomad

So turns out that, despite all my talk about wanting to settle down since I sold the van last year, I don’t really. At least not yet. I like being a nomad!

I’m excited to move to a new part of the country. I look forward to feeling the energy of exploring new places again.

The next phase of my nomadic life

I’m feeling grateful that I had this time in Nelson. If I had continued with the usual 4-6 week housesits, I probably still wouldn’t have figured out that I like the nomadic life and would still be toying with the idea of settling down. As it is, I’m fully ready to embrace that next phase of my nomadic life.

I’m not sure yet exactly what that will look like. For now, I’m going to Kaikoura for a few days and then on to Christchurch. From there, I will fly to Auckland for a week to catch up with friends and clients. From mid-September, I will be housesitting in Port Levy on the Banks Peninsular for a month. I’m considering housesits beyond that, so I think I will keep housesitting for now. However, I also still have that caravan idea in the back of my mind.

Who knows what will happen. All I know is that, right now, I’m not ready to settle down. I probably will one day, but not yet.