“Home” keeps on coming up in our conversations lately.
You finally landed in a place you call home. Reviewing a lease for your new home. Fundraisers for your home. Relaxing at home. New colleagues who make you feel at home. Your kids at home.
I can’t stop hearing “home.” Or maybe it’s what I’m listening for.
You see, at one point this week a friend said to me “so you’re calling this a hotel, but you’re actually creating a home.” I’m reading through research about transformational travel experiences and a prerequisite is that people feel that they are very much “not at home.” I’m working on decks right now about creating a place of warmth and community, outside of home.
What is a home?
The best we can do is sketch around “home” and define parts of it - like a cozy couch, being in the company of people who care deeply about you and your wellbeing, a geographic location, an identity, a place with candlelight.
Or maybe it’s a place that you sleep really well. Eat *yummy* food. Make amazing friends. Connect with who you love. Feel inspired and rejuvenated. A place where you’re safe enough to throw open the door and explore near and far, knowing that a very specific and whole kind of comfort is always waiting for you when you come back.
Some other thoughts that are bouncing around this week that I wanted to roll your way:
“The types of travel that tend to be ripe for transformation to occur include: rites of passage, study abroad, heritage travel, pilgrimage, adventure/challenge, service learning, healing or therapy, and spiritual travel.” - Susan Ross
“Penelope Gazin and Kate Dwyer faced a lot of sexism and condescension when they launched their e-commerce marketplace for weird art–that is until they introduced an imaginary cofounder named Keith.” - John Paul Titlow
From Knight Frank:
Sending you crayon drawings of your home and a lot of love,
Jenna
Photo by Adam Duchemann