I’m living in dreamland. It’s like a no-man’s land between realities.

Just recently back in the States after three months in Portugal, neither seems quite real.

Living in dreamland

My daughter, who spent eight months in Thailand as an exchange student, said it’s return shock. It feels unreal, she said, like one of your experiences was a dream – but you’re not sure which one.

It probably doesn’t help that I only lived in Tennessee for five months before moving to Portugal. Or that I spent the six months before that house sitting for two different friends, for three months each. I’ve been like a nomad for more than a year – living in other people’s houses, sharing space.

Perhaps if I had my own long-term home that I’d returned to, I’d feel more like I was back from some exotic vacation, and I’d settle into my routine.

But that wasn’t it. It wasn’t vacation – it was life. I lived there.

 

Return to reality?

It also doesn’t help that I came back to a place devoid of anything I owned.

Before I went to Portugal, my sister thought she was going to move. Her lease was up, and her landlord wanted to sell. In anticipation of that, I packed everything in my car, so all she would have to do is pop my bike on the rack and drive my car to her new home. But then she didn’t have to move.

Interestingly, I have no desire to unpack my car. Aside from some clothes, shoes and a few essentials (like spices and shampoo), I’m fine leaving it all where it is. In fact, I’d like to get rid of more of it.

Maybe it’s because I’ll be on the move this summer, back to Wisconsin for a while for my family.

Or maybe it’s because I now feel like Portugal is really where I want to be. It was a good instinct that I chose it. Lisbon turned out to be a great fit for many reasons.

After living there, I know I want to go back. Yes, there are other places to visit and see, and Portugal will be a great base to get to other cities and countries in Europe. My original plan was to move there outright and use it as a way to explore more of the world. Now, I see it was a good plan, after all.

 

Portugal clicks

There’s something about Portugal – about Europe – that clicks with me. I feel different when I’m there. I can’t explain it.

Other people may feel the click in other places – the mountains, the ocean, big cities, national parks – wherever they feel at home and happy.

Of course, not everyone chooses to live where they feel that connection. For some people, simply being able to vacation there is enough. They like the lives they’ve built in their homes and communities. Maybe that is where they get the “click.”

Now that I know it’s possible to live in Portugal, though, I can’t turn back. While I can settle back into a routine here, I’ll always feel like something’s off. Something’s missing. That “je ne sais quoi” will keep me moving.

Perhaps living in dreamland will be a permanent state for me now, feeling like one of my experiences was a dream – although both are very real. There are worse ways to live, surely.

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Be a Better Writer Tip

Write in a different location

Try writing in a different location. Changing your scenery can change your thinking. If you find you could use an adjustment or a boost to get out of a rut, try physically changing your writing location.

If you usually write at home, try changing it up. Go outside or to a coffee shop. Find a park bench with a view.

If you only write at work, try writing at home or another location.

If you usually write at a coffee shop or co-working space, try getting outside on a nice day.

You can always go back to your regular writing space.

Some writers can only work in one spot at one time. They have their routine and don’t mess with it. If that’s you, that’s great.

But if you feel stuck at all, sometimes a change in what you see can help you move past it – literally.

 

Need some suggestions?

Libraries are nice. You can usually get free Wi-Fi, a power outlet, a table and chair, and it’s quiet. Pick an out-of-the-way corner if you’re worried about too many distractions.

Coffee shops usually welcome guests for longer periods, but you’ll need to buy something. (You’ll want coffee anyway, right?) Free Wi-Fi, electrical outlet, table and chair are part and parcel, but it will be noisier and busier than a library.

Pick a local park and find a bench in the sun or shade – depending on your preference. Be sure you charge your laptop. If you need Wi-Fi, you may need to create a hotspot or find a park with free Wi-Fi. (Some city and national parks and bike trails offer free Wi-Fi.)