By the time I turned 18, I’d lived in four different countries — England, Kuwait, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Sparked by my desire to live in one place — and the draw of reasonable university fees — I moved to my “home country” of the Netherlands, where my parents were from but I’d never lived before.
For almost 10 years, I lived there and ignored the growing sense of restlessness within me. However, I couldn’t say I was truly happy.
Knowing it was time for a change, I decided to start thinking about moving somewhere else.
So, at the end of 2023, I gave up my apartment, stored my belongings in my mom’s basement, and decided to travel the world to find my new home.
I started my journey in Spain
My first stop was Xàbia, Spain, a coastal town where I spent five weeks petsitting a red lab in a stunning house overlooking the ocean.
Here, I saw what it would be like to live somewhere I could spend my weekends at the beach or hiking.
I loved being in a place with an abundance of sunshine, but ultimately, it didn’t feel like home. So, I decided to move on to my next destination.
Next, I spent two weeks in Belfast
I had never visited Northern Ireland before, and I immediately fell in love with the country’s dynamic energy. I loved the comedy clubs, cozy pubs, and history lining the streets.
However, I felt like something was missing, and didn’t find enough variety in the restaurant scene to satisfy my cravings. So, I continued my search.
I headed to Kythira, an island in Greece
Every year, my friends and I take a two-week vacation to a different Greek island.
So, when we traveled to Kythira, I was curious to see if it was a place I’d want to call home.
I pictured spending a year on the sandy beaches with the sun shining down on me. After a long day of work, I could even take a dip in the ocean.
However, after talking to locals, I learned the island was pretty empty outside the summer season. So, I realized I’d always be chasing that summer holiday feeling.
After struggling to find a place that felt like home, I decided to return to the country I was born in
After several misses, I decided to try England, the place where I was born and lived until I was three. However, I’d only visited a few times in the years since.
I spent three weeks dogsitting in a small village in Bedfordshire, which is north of London. The idyllic countryside beckoned me, with long walks in the forest, Sunday roasts in the same pub, and evenings spent reading in the garden.
I yearned for this tranquil existence, but recognized it wasn’t time for me to live this type of lifestyle yet. With my isolating work and single status, finding my people in such a small village would be hard.
So, I decided to try two weeks in Cambridge, a city I’d heard so much about. I loved working in various cafes, visiting museums on weekends, and meeting people my age.
However, Cambridge is a student city at its core, which didn’t feel right for where I was at during this part of my life.
I finally ended up settling in the perfect city
Finally, I spent a month in London when my sister asked me to watch her pomsky.
I assumed the expensive, busy, and overwhelmingly gray city wasn’t for me based on previous short visits. However, during this trip I got to see another side of London.
I loved the large parks that made me forget I was in a city, the dazzling theater scene, and the cozy cafés where I could type away without feeling lonely.
I grabbed coffee with fellow journalists I met online and recognized a potential community. Because London is a highly populated city, I felt like I had the best chance of finding my tribe — something I’d been missing for the past few years.
After a few months in London, I couldn’t be happier
I’ve been in London for a few months now, and still feel like I’m trying to find my feet. However, I’m slowly building a community and even reached out to high school friends who ended up in London after university.
I always visit the same local café, where I sit with my laptop and a dirty chai at least twice a week. I avoid crowded areas like Soho and Liverpool Street and push myself to visit a large park every weekend.
Sometimes, I feel like Carrie from “Sex and the City,” and other times, I feel far less glamorous and far more cold.
I didn’t think I could be happy in such a busy and urban setting, but I’ve loved carving out my piece of the city, and I plan to keep doing so.
This story was originally published on April 4, 2025, and most recently updated on August 6, 2025.
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