In the early 80’s before Steve and I were married we decided to move from our apartment in Boston to the countryside in rural Maine.  I thought it would be so romantic to live in the middle of nowhere and we bought a house on 10 acres of land bordering another 100 acres.  I grew up in a two decker house and we lived on the second floor.  Our backyard was a postage stamp and I had no idea what 10 acres even meant.  I soon became  pregnant, we got married at our house in the “back yard” and our first son, Aaron, was born.  My mother came to visit and she asserted that this was no place to raise children.  “How would they get anywhere?  You’ll have to drive them everywhere.”  This was the frame of reference from someone who had never lived in anything but an apartment, with access to public transportation.  I knew that these were also my feelings, my frame of reference.

I soon became pregnant again and realized that I couldn’t live this life that I once thought to be romantic.  We moved back to Massachusetts, but not before we bought our house on Peaks Island.  A few years later we moved to Peaks Island full time and for me, it was the perfect compromise.  My family could live in “the country” and I could be in the city after a short, 20 minute ferry ride to Portland, a city that met all my needs. 

Over the years I have lived in several cities around the world.  It’s my happy place. I am a city person.  I love the urban life and I’m really comfortable living in an apartment in the midst of a large city.  I love being able to walk out my door and find anything I need.  I love the access to public transportation.

In 2018-2019 we moved to Budapest and taught high school English.  Not my favorite job.  I didn’t like myself much as a teenager, so I wasn’t surprised to discover that this was not the job for me. I did, however, love Budapest and the access I had to traveling to so many other countries.

A week and a half ago I arrived back in Budapest and for the first time in my adult life, at the age of 73, I am not working at a paid job.  I am settling into my new life here and our small but wonderful apartment.  I can walk out my door with my transportation card in hand and make my way around a city that I love.  Our  apartment is in a great location, one block from the City Park. Budapest’s equivalent to Central Park in New York.  It’s amazing and has acres of green space to walk and bike.  The last time I was here, the park was under construction and all but a small portion was closed to the public. I am in my happy place.  I live in a world class city, with all it has to offer and I have some green space around the corner.  Again, the best of both worlds. 

I’m well aware of the politics of this country, and being a foreigner affords me the luxury to explore the impact the current administration has on its people, without reading the newspapers or watching the news on TV.  My frame of reference is based on the people I meet and their generosity to share their views. Budapest is a liberal bastion in this country.  A place where I see people of color, immigrants, gay and lesbian couples holding hands in public, a visible Jewish community, and all the trappings of any liberal city in the world. 

My husband, Steve, is teaching high school here which allows me the luxury of a visa so I can stay until June.  We are planning trips to places within Hungary, and to countries we have never been to.  We are hoping to host friends and family while we’re here.  We are lucky enough to have friends from our teaching days in Korea, living here in Hungary, The Netherlands and Belgium, and we are planning a reunion with all of them. 

I am settling into my new life and adventure as a citizen of the world, and a retired person.  A strange but gratifying feeling, indeed.  

Helen Keller was right when she said  “Life is either a great adventure or nothing.”  I’ll embrace that frame of reference and enjoy these days with enthusiasm.

Stay in touch and I will too.

With love and gratitude,

Marsha