Remember the 'paradox of choice' he said.
As I continued on with my lazy Sunday afternoon I kept pondering that notion in various aspects of my own life. Did it apply to me? Did I sometimes feel anxious because I have too many options in front of me? And was my life a bit of a paradox?
Yesterday while dangling our feet in the cold Zurich lake water, another pal and I were enjoying a rather deep and philosophical type of discussion he shared that he sometimes wondered how long it would take someone to find out if he went missing, was injured and so on. It is expat sort of life, and I have often wondered that myself. We live a life solo.
What does that have to do with the paradox of choice you ask? Hang on, I am getting there :)
As we continued talking we came to the inevitable topic of whether or not this was where we would stop and stay. He thought that perhaps he would not that he may head towards Greece. Me, I am not sure what I will do either. Sometimes I think South America in a few years. Other times I think I will stay here if the country will have me. Single expats talk a lot about such things. We have no clue about where home is anymore.
When living in Austria I met many people who either lived in the same building as other family members or had a home within sight of where they grew up. Having a conversation such as the one we were having would be unfathomable to them.
First when you move from your home country you are overwhelmed. Homesick. I have to be honest, some days are downright brutal. But if you persevere, you can get through it and then something else happens. You look at the world in a whole new light. The options are literally endless for where you can move to next.
So then I got to thinking about the paradox of choice and whether a consumer faced with many choices and a 'rolling stone' type lifestyle had anything in common. I have to be honest, I am still pondering this one. However, I cannot help but think that when it comes to not knowing where you will live next, a whole world opens up. You stop collecting stuff. You avoid anything that can lead to a deep emotional entanglement. Friends become the family you left behind. I would almost go so far to say that sometimes it is not about the destination as much as it is the challenge of it all.
Back to my reflective pondering. Am I overwhelmed with the possibilities I see available to me? Some days I would have to say yes while other days I am comforted by the options. If pressed however, I would go along with the notion that loosely interpreted, this lifestyle is a bit of paradox. I mean, how can you love a life that leaves you wondering how long it would take you to be missed, or that has complete strangers become as close as family in days.
Yes honey, that was indeed a bit of a ramble... :)