Settled in Spain

Living in Andalucía for 2 1/2 years now, I couldn't think of another place to call home. This is my home now and I'm used to the way of life here.

Missing Holland is more about missing my family and friends, but I don't want to go back to the lifestyle I had. Sure I made more money and things seem to have more structure. Sure I had coffee with friends, late night chats with my brohter and fun dates. I couldn't forget the last few months of living in Holland and the lifestyle I was creating around me. But I felt everything was changing as my friends started families, what could lead to me living the crazy single life alone. I knew I didn't want that forever, as it could also not satisfy me enough. I needed something more...

Other things that I do miss, is the timeframe of getting things done. It's absolutely no lie that everything in Spain is mañana, mañana. But then, once you are used to that, you neither feel the pressure of doing things asap yourself. What cannot be done today, will be left for tomorrow. It does add an calmness to things.

I don't envy the stories about how cold and rainy it is in Holland. People forget that the southern heat here has its ups and downs too. A tropical climate is wonderful when you are on holiday and don't have to wake up after a(nother) night of heavy partying, but sleep your hangover off on the beach. Or when you don't have to work day after day in a sufficating little room, where you virtually cannot think while sweat makes you stick to your chair. Or the choice of trying to fall asleep with a buzzing airco vs. an airless bedroom...
Yet, I wouldn't change it for the world. I love the free feeling of the beachtown that I live in, the Spanish openness and fiery temperament. After all... negative things only stay that way until you decide to flip your frown upside down.

Living here does make me less undertaking at times. I don't go out as easily or get things sorted by phone. It's still hard to give a witty reply to the girl next to me in the supermarket complaining about the length of the queue.
I reckon it's just time. It took time for me to learn English and feel comfortable enough to do such things... it's only time before it'll be the same in Spanish. And I know I need the challenge. Without it, I'd get bored. As a restless soul, I need changes in my life, big enough to reach goals that take time to accomplish...

I know now, that giving yourself a wake-up call from time to time, isn't always such a bad thing. You never know which roads lies ahead of you or where you might end up...