Rooted at 1120 – It Took a Village

Well- it’s been a minute— less writing, more living. We’ve had less driving and visiting, and more nesting. The transition to Atlanta has been interesting, given that we spent the Covid “crazy time” living one of our dreams – (our own Shitts Creek), only to find out we have more than one dream.  We embrace car nomad culture, leveraged the generosity of friends, embraced our Vancouver home, and have settled in North Oakland of Atlanta – East Atlanta Village.

Living here has been good. We wanted to renew.  Our landlord has likely decided to sell. The universe speaks! Clearly, a temporary Roost at 1120 is now trending towards the same timeline as Roost116, and we are being prompted to continue dreaming..  Our next dreams of living in Europe compel our daily thoughts and decisions, both short and long-term. For now, we are quite happy, surprisingly happy, actually with how much this new Roost feels right (for now)

Some highlights:

• The before and after of our rentals. I’m sure the landlord will be pleased with some upgrades. Dimmers on lighting should be required by law!
• We have the space for both of us to work at home and to not feel like we are invading personal time and home space.
• The neighborhood is ideal for us.  It has a mix of all things urban and all things neighborhood. We continue to meet lovely people at the wine shop or on walks, or when we are out to eat in East Atlanta Village.
• EAV – East Atlanta Village – is one of the center points for the Black Lives Matter movement and this makes the area vibrant with murals, social justice posters, and calls to action. It feels like home.
• We miss California, but the affordability (for two gays with incomes) of Atlanta is quite refreshing.
• After living in the car, we hardly use the car.
• We often reflect on the meaningful connections during our road trips and the friends that hosted us:  Anita, Susan, Russel, Jo, Henry, Alix, Lia, Joe, MaryLee, Garrett, Melody, Archer, Evelyn, Elizabeth: we love you all. We can be “homeless” and know we always have a home.
• Atlanta keeps us on our toes- there is so much to explore, so we push ourselves to see something and do something new as often as possible.
• The connection to the Henthschel family has grounded us and provides a bio-connectivity that is refreshingly sweet.

From Casa Secoya to Sweet Peach City: A Year in Atlanta

Hindsight has such clarity of focus.  As I sit in the charming enclave of our East Atlanta Village (Ormwood),  nestled in Atlanta, I can’t help but reflect on the fascinating journey we’ve navigated over the past year. The year here began with the nomadic wanderings reminiscent of our own post-Shitt’s Creek adventure, and one that has transitioned into a life we could hardly have imagined, yet now can’t imagine living without. For now, we are home.

The COVID pandemic, in its tumultuous whirlwind, uprooted- er, unroosted many of us from our everyday lives, forcing us to redefine what it means to dream, to live, and to find a home. For us, it started as a wild, quirky fantasy, an homage to the beloved friends and framily that made the motel possible – living out a dreamscape. All the issues there strengthened our resolve and helped us embrace the liberatingly unfamiliar realm of car-nomad culture, and lean into the boundless generosity of our friends. 

We often reflect on the meaningful connections during our road trips and the friends that hosted us:  Anita, Susan, Russel, Jo, Henry, Alix, Lia, Joe, MaryLee, Garrett, Melody, Archer, Evelyn, Elizabeth: we love you all. We can be “homeless” and know we always have a home.

Our dreams of European living often nudge at the corners of our minds, influencing our daily thoughts, decisions, and ambitions. Yet, we find ourselves surprisingly content in Atlanta, our new roost that, despite our initial expectations, feels just right. For now.

The past year has not been without its share of surprises. We’ve made this rented house a home, and I’m certain our landlord would appreciate the personal touches we’ve added – like dimmers on the lights, a small change, but one that has an indelible impact on the ambiance of the space. We made the “mistake” of sending her before and after pictures- this place looks great and OF COURSE she wants to sell.  The neighborhood is ideal for us.  It has a mix of all things urban and all things neighborhood. We continue to meet lovely people at the wine shop or on walks, or when we are out to eat in East Atlanta Village. Today we will continue our rental house hunting. We wait for our 60-day notice to exit- pending the sale of the townhouse.

Working from home is no longer a trial of invading personal time and space, as we have made room to breathe, to work, to live. Our neighborhood, a splendid blend of urban energy and neighborly spirit, is everything we didn’t know we wanted. Shockingly, we’ve found a local wine shop that catches our attention nearly every other week. East Atlanta Village, our newfound haven, has proven to be a vibrant hub for the Black Lives Matter movement. The spirit of social justice resonates through murals, posters, and calls to action, adding a layer of warmth, of connection, that makes this area feel so profoundly like home.

Despite the lingering nostalgia for California, the affordability of Atlanta, especially for us as a gay couple, has been refreshing. We’ve traded our car-nomad days for walks around the neighborhood, exploring the city’s riches on foot. Atlanta, in its diversity and dynamism, keeps us on our toes. The city’s promise of unexplored territory compels us to keep discovering, keep experiencing, and keep living. Each day, each week, we push ourselves to seek out something new, something inspiring, something quintessentially Atlanta.  Chris picks a Tuesday restaurant, I pick a Thursday restaurant and we have committed ourselves to date night nearly every night.

And so, here we are – living, thriving, dreaming, and growing in Atlanta. This Southern complicated city, with its vibrant culture and heartening inclusivity, has nestled its way into our hearts. As we look towards the horizon, eagerly anticipating the European dreams waiting to be fulfilled, we also look around, appreciating our present, our home – for now, and maybe, just maybe, for a little while longer.