The paramount importance of where we live…

Many folks are of the opinion that what we do – our vocation – is by far, the most important choice before us as we begin our active lives. Sure, but next and almost equal to it, I would say that picking a place to live that works for us is another critical choice that we end up making over a lifetime. I would tend to say that it supersedes the choice of a partner or a mate! 

But if we return to the idea of this ideal place to live, I’d like to stress how much it can contribute to one’s happiness. I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in a gem of a place called Les Lindarets, in the French Alps, that I developed a strong taste for unique or niche places, but it must have had a strong influence in planting that seed in me, just like a nest must mean to a bird. 

Because I grew up under their monumental shadows, mountains would always be part of me, just like the seaside to so many others. Throughout my tumultuous life, my needs and wants were probably a bit complicated and hard to satisfy, yet in the end, I did the very best I could when it came to a job that didn’t feel like one, as it had little or no drudgery in it, and with the place I’ve been living in for almost four decades.

Total perfection is never fully attainable, so one has to leave or move a tiny bit of space for some healthy and convenient compromises! Most importantly, when I begin to analyze in retrospective the nature of my residence, I settled into a place that had great air quality (except when the West is burning), a perfect climate, that offered a perfect playground with a myriad of things I could do if I wanted to, but as time goes on, I seem to need less and less of these, no noise and much calm around me. 

My place also offers easy access to healthcare, shopping and world transportation even though I find myself with a diminishing appetite for going out of my pristine bubble!