Trailing safe
“I never knew what it was like to live your entire life in the same place, let alone the same neighbourhood or even country”. His eyes welled up whenever he would recount the story.
His audience gasped with excitement. For them, it was thrilling to have lived in so many places around the world, to have the opportunity to gain so much experience, to be somewhere different every so often.
But to Ted, that very lack of stability was the problem.
He had grown up knowing he could just pick up his house and leave – literally – whenever there was trouble.
Also part of Friday Fictioneers
MC's Whispers 
I totally get it. I went to too many different schools, lived in too many different houses and neighborhoods. I was always a little jealous of the kids who couldn’t
remember when they didn’t know each other. Always felt a little lost, left out, when my classmates would start the “do you remember” conversations.
Your story has that element of pathos. Good writing.
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Thank you so much. Glad you found something personal in there!
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You’re right, it’s called avoidant behavior, and for the person who is left behind each time he leaves it’s very painful. Reminds me of a Pearl Jam song I love, called, “Off He Goes.”
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Didn’t know that one, thanks for the song!
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You are very welcome.
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I hear Ted on this. I’d like to be able to just stay somewhere for a while too. I think that’s why I like my quiet, mostly invisible house.
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Glad you could relate. It’s a kind of like-it-or-hate-it situation sometimes
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I hope that he can find a quiet place to spend his retirement,
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That would be nice.
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I’ve moved so much, I’m not sure I’d know how to settle. I get this restlessness thing. But, to be forced to move out of necessity not choice is another thing. Thought-provoking piece!
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Thank you!
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Not the best reason to leave but understandable.
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Well, there may be underlying reasons to things we can’t understand..
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A shame he couldn’t find a happy medium, to move out of choice not necessity.
My story!
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Yes…life’s unpredictable like that..
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He’s a rolling stone all right.
Sounds like a tough way to get through life.
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Tough but sometimes necessary for survival…
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Settling down has it’s good and bad sides. Having to stay in a bad situation isn’t all that great, but running away at every bit of trouble isn’t that great either.
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You’re right. We need to know when to flee and when to stay…
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I understand his dilemma, where do you settle down and fit in?
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Where indeed?
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I like that idea. Live somewhere until trouble brews or its boring and uncomfortable then just pick it up and go elsewhere. I could live like that! Nice one!
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Thanks!
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