Before the age of 5, I moved 4 times. Georgia, Chicago, Denver & Houston. Then, I moved to Dallas when I was 12 and. Dallas is my home town and my parents still live there. But, since leaving for college, I have not had the same address for more then 3 years at a time. Is that strange? My friend who is into astrology says that is a trait of my sign; sagitarius get bored easily. I lived in New Orleans, back to Dallas, Tallahassee (Go Noles!), back to Dallas, Washington DC, Silver Spring, Maryland, back to Dallas, Jacksonville and China.
Living in Shenzhen China for over 5 years for me is a long time. It is weird to live in the foreignnest (not a word, but I like the way it sounds) of foreign countries for longer then I have stayed anywhere in a long time. But, based on my history, the move to Shanghai is long over due.
Every move has its difficulties, but moving to Shanghai has been especially unique. Dealing with movers who don’t speak english, highway restrictions and regulations (You can’t drive commercial trucks on city street except during a specific time), moving company employees quitting in route. One of the guys that works for us who was supervising the move said he had not been as upset in the 6 years he had worked for us combined then he was on that single day of the move.
Moving from southern China to Shanghai is like a native to Alabama moving to New York City. It is very different. 25 years ago, Shenzhen was rice fields. Now it is one of the fastest growing urban areas in China. But, it has a very young population. For most of the people in Shenzhen, they have come to the city from farms and villagepuff the farm. They work all year long and take 10 – 20 hour train rides home once per year to visit their family and take money home.
Shanghai, on the other hand is one of the oldest cities in China, but it is the most westernized city in China,as well. There are a lot of foreigners. Just below my apartment there is a Starbucks, Subway and McDonald’s all in the same block. And, it has a metro system that takes you all over the city. After being stuck on the outskirts of Shenzhen with no quick access to public transportation, this is going to me mean freedom for me.
I have been doing some research and they have an expat learning center with writing courses, a fitness center from Australia that offer boot camps all over the city. There are movies theaters with recently released movies and stadium seating. It has all the comforts of modern living and I am excited to take advantage of it all. Plus it is China, so even more opportunities to explore this countries culture in history from a new perspective.
I am happy to be moving to Shanghai, it will be a welcome change of pace from the isolated place I have been in for the last 5 years.
My goal is to take advantage of all Shanghai has to over, until I move again.
Have you moved around like me or have you lived in the same place all your life? How many different places have you moved?
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
Wowza. I lived in the same town for the first 24 years of my life–and the same house for 21 of those years. I can’t imagine so many moves, but it’d be great to experience so many places.
It is pretty cool to have a hometown like that, too. I have always wanted to have a home where I always came back home to. Even the place my parent live now they just moved there a few years ago. It wasn’t the house I grew up in.
My daughters were born in China. I’m captivated by your adventures. More please.
That’s cool. I will try and write more. In Shenzhen, my life was not in a very positive place in the last 6-8 months and I don’t like writing about that type of stuff for this blog, but Shanghai is a much more positive and inspiring place to be, so stay tuned.
Good luck with the move honey 🙂
I’ve moved round quite a lot, 8 different places in 25 years, but I so wish it hadn’t been like that 😦
Unfortunately, every time we moved it was for a reason. Not one move has been because we just fancied it *deep sigh* 😦
I’m sure there is another move on the cards in the not too distant future, but, I’m dreading it lol
Xx
I’ve always lived in Sydney, Australia, but since 2004 I have moved 6 times. I guess that’s quite a few times in 8 years. But I’m done now. We built a house, and I won’t be moving again anytime soon if I have my way. It’s nice to finally feel settled in a place of my own.
I hope to have a place to settle some day. I am having fun exploring the world, but there is nothing like having a home.
Beginning during my childhood, i too have moved around a lot. i have lived in many different places, states, cities (including Dallas), and even a different country. Too, the time spent in most of those places was not long. i am currently in South Florida, but call Southern California home. i have been feeling very displaced lately and i really need to be back there right now, at the very least, away from this place.
Wishing you all the best in Shanghai. Make the most of it.
Hey Marlin. Moving around a lot is cool, but it is always nice to get back home as well. There is a reason I have moved to and from Dallas over 4 times.
I’ve lived in the same state all my life (not to far from Dallas actually), but recently I’ve been able to see the country more and went to Canada. I really want to travel to Europe soon, but I have to graduate first. So, we will see.
i also have the wanderlust gene – i’m also a sagittarius, maybe there’s something to that, eh? ha! i moved a lot more when i was younger – pre-kids, my hubs and i moved about every six months or so. we’ve lived all around oklahoma out to portland, oregon and then back again. we’ve now been in a house we bought for about seven years and it’s the longest i’ve lived anywhere. we still travel on vacations and i mentally travel everywhere i can.
I think for the next part of my life I would like to have a home base and then travel, more. I miss having a home. My whole life is in one storage unit, six boxes and 2 suitcases.
well there is something to be said for that. there’s no way all of my crap would fit into that small a space.
Neither does my considering the three boxes I just sent back to my parents house of keep sakes. I have bought so much over the years in souvenirs it would be nice to get somewhere permanent to display all the stuff.
I love to read your blog stories telling of your travels and adventures. I’ve lived in the same location and house for the past 32 years. one of my dreams is to buy an RV and roam the country. I’m not sure if that will ever happen, nor am I sure if I will like it for very long, however the thought of the adventure intrigues me. But, alas, I am an Earth sign (Taurus) and we Earth signs tend to stay grounded in one spot.
That would be fun. I would like to do that one day as well. Spend more time getting to know the USA.
You are sure an adventurous spirit!
I’ve lived basically in one place my whole life. The farm I grew up on was a forty-five minute drive from a shopping mall with few people living in between here and there. I didn’t even get off the farm that much because I was homeschooled (which is an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world).
When I became an adult, I moved to what is my adopted hometown (a little populace that is where I would have gone to public school had that been my education route) where my job is. Within a year, I moved twice in the same apartment building. I hate the work of moving. lol
But now, I’m feeling like I’ve gone as far as I can go where I’m at and am currently exploring my options. I’ve always felt convicted that there is something great in store for my life, and it’s starting to feel like it can’t happen here. I really appreciate you sharing your stories of globetrotting – it encourages me not to settle where I’m at and to keep exploring.
Good luck in your new setting!