The past two months have been rather odd for me. Rather than continuing to acquaint myself with an ever increasing number of couches, I’ve actually settled down into a room that I’m renting.
At last, the long couch-surf is over. Albeit relieved, I’m also somewhat disappointed that this period of my life has come to an end. Although it was undeniably demanding and stressful (and the fact that I didn’t have my own space was beginning to drive me insane) the three months for which I was homeless probably rank among the best of my life.
Despite the various jabs of my colleagues and the hardships, and stigma, that one inevitably faces, being ‘homeless’ brought with it a sense of liberation that is sorely missing in Western day-to-day life. Not knowing where you are going to stay the next night ingrains a sense of freedom into the uncertainty of your life.
There are no obligations to spend money in order to be happy, as you’re too busy living. You don’t need to devise ways of making yourself happy just for the sake of being happy. You either find yourself preoccupied with surviving or else having a fantastic time with the friends and people who are showing you their kindness by inviting you into their homes.
Leaping from one lounge to the next, you interact with people at their most generous and welcoming. You yourself are stripped of many of the comforts that compel you to arrogance and safety, and rather are forced to acknowledge yourself and engage with those you trust (and sometimes those that you don’t). And when you realise just how seemingly unimpressive an ordeal / experience you are enduring compared to others in this world, you find a much clearer understanding of yourself.
Regardless, living that lifestyle is one thing when you’re backpacking through the jungles of Asia. Juggling that amount of freedom with a demanding career is quite another task unless one wishes to become a professional monk. And one can only live off the goodwill of others for so long. So it is that I find myself settled into a house in Earlsfield.
Yes, I had wanted to move anywhere but the South West of London. However, I gave up for the sake of convenience. Besides, after however many months of couch-surfing in London I felt that I ought to take the easy route for once.
However, being settled does open up some other opportunities and I shouldn’t lament the fact that I now am leading a somewhat more structured lifestyle. I’ve had the pleasure of having experienced some of these opportunities over the past two months and I’ll look to share them in the coming weeks.
From concerts to shows to clothes flying out of windows to unforgiving photographs to air-guitar bands, 2010 has been a hell of a year so far.
Wish i could have all that and experience it, too