Home is Where...?

Do we feel more or less at home in different places because of the specific characteristics of a place?

Or do we just feel at home in some places more than others, and then start pointing to the things we like about it as justification?

I lean towards the former, mostly because I generally prefer to put concrete answers to things if I can.  But the truth is, I don't know.

We have been staying at a hotel in Rhode Island during the week while my fiance works on a project here.  Having me here means that he doesn't have to commute back to Boston every night to see me.  It's been a huge stress relief for both of us.  Yesterday, though, I drove back up to our apartment to pick up a few things, and was reminded of something I've always felt about the Boston area...

I've always felt like a visitor there.

When I mentioned this to my fiance, he commented on how quickly I seemed to settle in at the hotel.  And it's true.  For whatever reason, I do feel more at home here than in Boston.  Not that I would want to stay here.  We have yet to find a restaurant in the area that isn't a chain, and there's really nothing to do outside the hotel besides go to malls or movies.  Or chain restaurants.

Nowhere that I've lived or visited has ever made me feel more uncomfortable in my own skin than Boston.  I've met great people in Boston, had lots of fun times, found plenty of places that I like to hang out.  And yet... it's just never been right.

I think I knew, from the moment I moved here in 2008, that I wouldn't be staying.

Though, I never could have predicted that I'd be moving to Denmark.  I have a good feeling about it.  I hope it feels like home.