This month, I left London for greener pastures (Surrey) to start my next adventure and I wanted to share a little about why I made this choice after nearly a decade living in central London, and a lifetime as a Londoner.
Over the last year or so, I’ve shared about my mental health journey after a difficult period in my life. Part of this journey has been tuning into my wants and needs, and prioritising my gut feeling over the words and opinions of others.
I’d made a lot of changes – living alone, getting a dog, moving teams and roles at AWS, traveling (a lot!) – but my home felt less and less like a home.
After busy work days or trips abroad, I found myself disillusioned with my surroundings. I no longer wanted the noise of London streets, people partying, cars flying by, music from my local on my doorstep. I used to take comfort in noise – I actually couldn’t sleep in total silence. Sirens blaring in the distance and chatter of neighbours gave me comfort.
But as months went on, something changed. As I grew more confident, more calm, I craved silence. I no longer go out like I used to, I drink infrequently, and I started spending weekends off with my dog in Epping Forrest or by the sea.
Suddenly, my Londoner life – the one I’d always dreamed of growing up – no longer made sense.
I sat with these feelings. Thought about moving abroad to cities I love (even made tentative plans) – Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Dublin – or to other parts of the UK Londoners often venture – Manchester, Edinburgh. None of them felt quite right.
My family live in SW London / Surrey suburbs and one day when visiting my mum, sat in her garden at 6am with my morning coffee, in complete silence bar the birds chirping and my dog running, it clicked. This is what I needed.
Within a few weeks, I’d found a place that suited me. My building has a co-working space, gym and cinema, the town has direct fast trains to the city, and close proximity to major airports – so off I went.
For the first time in my life, I listened to – and acted on – my gut.
A few weeks later, I am writing this post on a peaceful weekend morning in my new home, on the river, in the middle of the Surrey Hills, coffee at my side, totally, completely, at peace.
A page turned. (Several) London chapters behind me. A new adventure. A chapter (or book…) ahead of me.
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