作者Loren Braunohler曾因工作原因旅居世界各地，体验了新加坡、莫桑比克、澳大利亚、波兰等多个国家和地区。在近三十年的迁徙生涯中，她逐渐理解了“变化即是常态”的哲学，并在探索新环境中茁壮成长。2018年，她和家人移居罗德岛沿海地区，被当地社区的热情接纳，感受到了与澳大利亚、波兰、莫桑比克和泰国等地相似的文化特质，如对环境的关怀、工作与生活的平衡、对户外的热爱以及淳朴的民风。尽管后来又经历了短暂的华盛顿特区和乌克兰生活，但每年夏季的罗德岛之行加深了她对这里的眷恋。2022年，他们有机会重返罗德岛，强烈的社区归属感让她确信这里是她理想的“家”。最终，在2023年，作者在罗德岛的梦想家园安顿下来，找到了她近40年漂泊后渴望的归属感。

🌍 **全球生活经历塑造归属感**：作者Loren Braunohler的人生轨迹遍布世界多个国家，从佛罗里达到新加坡，再到莫桑比克、澳大利亚、波兰等地，每一次迁徙都带来了新的视角和成长。这种丰富的跨文化体验，让她深刻理解了“变化是生命中唯一不变的真理”，并在不断探索新环境的过程中找到了自我，为最终找到“家”奠定了基础。

🤝 **Rhode Island社区的温暖接纳**：在移居罗德岛沿海地区后，作者和家人受到了邻居们，包括当地渔民和学校家长们的热情欢迎。这种友善和包容，让他们迅速融入当地，体验到与他们在世界各地经历过的相似的文化特质，如对环境的尊重、对生活的热爱以及淳朴的人情味，这让她第一次萌生了在此扎根的念头。

🏡 **社区精神成为“家”的最终要素**：即使在离开罗德岛后，作者每年夏季都会返回，维系着与当地的联系。当2022年有机会重返罗德岛时，她感受到了强烈的“回家”之感。当地居民积极参与社区活动，如社区乐队、戏剧演出、环保教育、志愿服务以及节日庆典，这种超越自我的奉献精神，构成了她心中“家”的最后一块拼图，带来了无与伦比的归属感。

📍 **40年后找到理想定居点**：经过近四十年的漂泊和探索，作者在罗德岛的Jamestown找到了她心目中理想的“家”。尽管未来可能还有海外经历，但她已确定这里是她的最终目的地。这种长久寻觅后的圆满，让她更加珍视这份来之不易的稳定与幸福，并深刻体会到，正是过往的经历让她更能理解和欣赏Jamestown的独特之处。

I've lived all over the world for work, and always loved getting to explore new places.After moving to coastal Rhode Island, though, my family found a sense of community and belonging.In 2023, we bought our dream house here, finally putting down roots.

"Where is home?"

If someone had asked me that question five years ago, I would have paused.

I was born in Florida, but spent my adolescent years in Singapore. Then, I returned to the US for college before moving to Mozambique, Venezuela, Australia, Sudan, Thailand, the US again, Poland, and Ukraine.

The first time I moved to a new place was when I was 13 years old. I remember feeling uncertain: All I'd known was Florida's climate, American cuisine, and weekends spent waterskiing at the lake.

Singapore was a massive adjustment. Suddenly, I was living on an island with high-rise buildings, a modern public transit system, and a myriad of cultures, languages, food, and religious beliefs — and I loved it.

My move to Singapore set in motion a desire to explore new places. I sought out a career as a US diplomat that allowed me to travel to, live in, and learn about other countries. I met my husband, also a US diplomat, on my first day of work.

After 10 years, I resigned to become a stay-at-home mom, but our family continued to move around the world as my husband received new assignments.

Through nearly three decades of travel, I started to understand myself better. With each move, I embraced the philosophy that the only constant in life is change — and I thrived when exploring new places.

When we moved to Rhode Island, I finally saw myself staying in one place for good

Then, in 2018, my husband got an assignment that brought us to coastal Rhode Island. We were quickly embraced by our neighbors, from the lobster fisherman down the street to the parents from the local elementary school.

Almost instantly, they made us feel like a part of the community by inviting us into their homes, filling us in on the local festivals and best-kept secret spots, and encouraging us to join neighborhood sports teams and activities.

During what was our shortest assignment to any place, ever, I discovered that many of the attributes I had come to love about other cultures existed here.

I witnessed the same care for the environment and appreciation for work-life balance that I found in Australia, and the connection to the outdoors and full realization of the seasons that I loved in Poland.

There was an unassuming sense of peace and beauty that reminded me of Mozambique. Our neighbors' warm, inviting attitude reminded me of the people I met in Thailand.

For the first time, it occurred to me that this could be a place where I'd be happy to stay.

I've found a sense of belonging that solidified Rhode Island as my forever home

After leaving Rhode Island in 2019, we spent the next three years in Washington, DC, and Ukraine.

Every summer, though, we returned to Rhode Island to visit friends and create summer traditions: savoring a cup of frozen lemonade on the beach, taking a nature walk at Sachuest Point, and learning new tricks at sailing camp.

In 2022, we jumped on the opportunity to return to Rhode Island for a three-year assignment. Moving back here felt like coming home.

The best thing about our town is the strong sense of community. Adults and children are welcomed into the community band and theater, nonprofits teach people about the local marine environment, and residents organize Hallmark-like holiday celebrations every year.

The town bakeries and bars are immensely valuable community gathering spots that support local artists and students by championing their work.

Residents volunteer to coach youth sports, assist at the food pantry, beautify the island's public spaces, safeguard our historical sites, and so much more.

So many people here take on a role greater than themselves to make this place extraordinary, creating a sense of community and belonging. It was the final puzzle piece of "home" that I didn't know was missing.

No one place has it all figured out, but Jamestown, Rhode Island, comes pretty close. We bought a home here in 2023, and although we have a couple of overseas adventures left, we know this will be our final destination.

It took me 40 years to find my "home." If I had found it earlier, though, would I have appreciated it as much? Would I have understood why its special nature suited me so well?

Decades of travel and living abroad have culminated in a feeling of comfort, ease, and belonging in Jamestown, and finally an answer to the question, "Where is home?"