Postcard 042 - Environments As Amplifiers
"What does Seattle bring out in you?"
It was a really beautiful question. I was walking downtown with a friend of a friend, running a quick errand to the grocery store. I was pointing out various landmarks and sharing historical commentary when she asked how I felt about moving back. I told her about being closer to my parents, having one of my best friends live a block away, and rekindling relationships with so many friend circles from different points in my life.
Then she followed up with that question, which I appreciated so much more than "What brought you to Seattle?"
It was a great provocation, because I realized I had danced around answering it in some ways, acknowledging who I spent time with but not who I was in Seattle — at least compared to "who I was" when I lived in San Francisco or visited any number of other cities.
The rest of the walk found us deconstructing the places we'd lived and what aspects of those places resonated with the rhythms of our lives and how we enjoyed spending our time and energy.
I was reminded of that conversation this past weekend as I rode the ferry home from Orcas Island in a thick fog. While a number of people on the boat lamented the lack of the view, the fog felt like a warm blanket for me — a nostalgic comfort and reminder of how much I love that aspect of the Pacific Northwest.
As summer has arrived in Seattle, I've realized how much growing up here and the real seasons that we have (compared to the never-ending Summer in California) shapes my mood in a way that I love. I want to be outside all the time from June to August, and then happily retreat back in to work come September.
Similarly, I've tried to be very intentional about my space at home, keeping the office for "work" things and making sure people can flow from the kitchen to the dining table to the living room. This all sounds a bit obvious as I write it out (especially if you've read atomic habits lol), but it was on my mind today, so here we are.
If you have a moment, I'd love to hear what your city brings out in you!