This summer, during my family’s inaugural overseas journey, I took a solitary stroll through Killarney National Park in Ireland. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a golden-green hue on the pathway, which was lined with linden trees buzzing with bees, leading me to initially believe a drone swarm was nearby. Beyond the trail lay undulating hills, and further on, a small grove revealed Muckross Abbey, a Franciscan friary that’s over 600 years old. An ancient yew tree spread through the window openings and reached skyward through the now-open portal.
If I resided in Kerry, I would take this walk every single day.
My life would slow down. I’d rise early to wander through the woods and then immerse myself in my wildflower garden, sipping endless cups of Barry’s tea while I wrote. My creativity would flourish. With the stunning beauty surrounding me, how could I not channel my inner Maeve Binchy? And if it meant leaving my husband for a rugged sheep farmer named Seamus, I’d accept that fate.
Back at the hotel, I combed through property listings on MyHome.ie while researching the logistics of relocating to Ireland.
Unfortunately, after two weeks spent admiring every quaint stone cottage dotting the Irish countryside, our vacation came to a close, and we returned home to Oregon.
You know the saying, No matter where you go, there you are?
I call nonsense. I have been a myriad of women in countless locations.
In London, I morphed from a binge-watching sofa slug into an unofficial walking tour guide. There was something about the city’s energy that propelled me to experience every museum, landmark, play, castle, village, woodland, and historically significant park bench.
In my twenties, I lived in New Zealand and became Adventure Marian. I trekked the Tongariro Crossing, undertook a six-month yoga teacher training, and spent another month on a farm planting native trees while staying in a cabin that overlooked a mountain range known as The Remarkables (that’s genuinely its name).
Typically modest and a non-drinker, I enjoyed a summer in Spain sunbathing topless on the beach and sipping wine in cobblestone squares until the early hours. After relocating to San Francisco at 26, I revered three things: avocado toast, artisanal coffee, and “disruptive tech.” Two years later in Germany, I fully embraced my straightforward personality, which the Germans seemed to appreciate almost as much as punctual trains and meticulously sorted recycling.
I was, of course, younger. Every adventure back then felt like stepping through an open door into a new existence.
Now, at 37, I find myself writing this at my kitchen table in Portland, Oregon, where I’ve resided for the last four years. I am a wife and a mother. A basket of laundry sits across from me, with the table cluttered with the remnants of daily life. This is a stark contrast to the escapades of my twenties, but this version of me is every bit as genuine as the others. When our cherished garden gnome was stolen, a mysterious neighbor replaced him with a family of three smaller ones. And upon returning from Ireland, I felt an overwhelming gratitude to sink into my own bed. Time and again, I told my family, “Ugh, I adore this bed. I love my plants. I appreciate our coffee maker.”
Still, that awareness doesn’t quell the daydreams. Those dreams manifest on Zillow, as I hunch over my phone at night while my husband sleeps beside me, trying to stifle my sighs as I gaze at a high-ceilinged apartment in Amsterdam. Perhaps there, I’d be the type of woman who cycles to the market for fresh tulips. Ooooh, but if I were to move to that historic 1700s farmhouse in Vermont with its exposed beams and a kitchen fireplace, I could become the woman who sets a cauldron of spiked cider out for Halloween. Last winter, while attending a writing residency on Whidbey Island, I spent much of my time exploring properties and texting my husband, “We could rent out the barn for weddings!”
These fantasies embody elements of me that still persist, hidden beneath heaps of laundry and lunchboxes — the Marian who isn’t fully realized in this chapter of my life. Searching through homes provides me the chance to engage with these multiple versions of myself without causing my family whiplash. I can experience a thousand lives, even as my actual one remains tethered to one location.
For the time being, at least.
Do I sometimes pine for the chance to uproot our lives for a rocky island retreat in Maine? Absolutely. Do I acknowledge that life will perpetually carry a slightly unromantic feel regardless of where I find myself? Definitely.
Yet, I also recognize that this continual exploration is how I maintain an open door, connecting me to all the women I used to be and all the women I aspire to become—adventurous and ever-evolving. It’s how I cling to the notion that irrespective of my age, endless versions of myself await just beyond the threshold.
Marian Schembari’s writings have been featured in The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire. She has also contributed to Cup of Jo about receiving an autism diagnosis in adulthood, and her memoir, A Little Less Broken, is set to release this September. Feel free to pre-order it here if you’re interested.
P.S. Insights on global parenting experiences.
**Discovering My Zillow Alter Ego: A Journey Through Dream Home Fantasies**
In this era of digital escapism, where social media and streaming platforms provide infinite distractions, a unique niche of the internet blends fantasy with reality in a captivating manner. Welcome to the realm of Zillow browsing, a pastime that has blossomed into a cultural sensation for both dreamers and planners. On the well-known lifestyle blog Cup of Jo, the notion of a “Zillow Alter Ego” is examined, encouraging readers to embark on a whimsical journey through real estate fantasies that are as revealing as they are entertaining.
**The Charm of Zillow Browsing**
Zillow, the online property marketplace, has evolved into more than just a resource for buyers and sellers. It has become a virtual playground for those who love to envisage various lives in diverse locations. Whether it’s a vast ranch in Montana, a stylish loft in New York City, or a charming cottage in the English countryside, Zillow provides a window into homes that spark dreams and aspirations.
The attraction of Zillow browsing lies in its capacity to whisk users away into alternate realities. It offers a chance to contemplate what life might entail in a different locale, with distinct environments, and perhaps even a different version of oneself. This activity taps into a universal desire to explore and reinvent, creating a safe haven to indulge in “what if” scenarios without real-world repercussions.
**Crafting Your Zillow Alter Ego**
Creating a Zillow Alter Ego is an exercise in imagination and self-exploration. It involves picturing who you might be in another existence, in another dwelling. Are you a minimalist residing in a sleek, modern apartment overlooking the skyline? Or maybe you are an outdoor enthusiast living in a rustic cabin nestled among majestic pines? Your Zillow Alter Ego can mirror your current goals or entirely diverge from your daily life.
To shape your Zillow Alter Ego, start by considering these aspects:
1. **Location**: Where does your alter ego make their home? Reflect on the climate, culture, and lifestyle of various regions. Do you desire the vibrancy of urban living, or do you long for the peace of rural life?
2. **Home Style**: What kind of residence does your alter ego inhabit? Delve into diverse architectural styles and interior designs. Are you enchanted by the quaintness of a Victorian home, the clean lines of a mid-century modern house, or the sophistication of a Mediterranean villa?
3. **Lifestyle**: What does a day in the life of your alter ego look like? Picture the routines and activities that define this alternative existence. Are you hosting dinner gatherings in a large dining area, nurturing a garden, or savoring coffee on a sun-drenched balcony?
**The Delight of Real Estate Fantasies**
Engaging with your Zillow Alter Ego can be a joyous and enlightening journey. It allows you to explore your ambitions and preferences, offering insights into what you genuinely cherish in a living environment. This activity may also inspire you in your current home, yielding fresh ideas for decor, layout, and even future housing decisions.
Additionally, discussing your Zillow daydreams with friends and family can create a fun and bonding experience. Comparing dream houses and chatting about the lives you envision can ignite conversations about personal dreams and ambitions, deepening mutual understanding.
**Conclusion**
In a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy frequently blur, exploring your Zillow Alter Ego provides a delightful escape. It’s an adventure through real estate fantasies that promotes creativity, self-reflection, and a touch of harmless indulgence. Therefore, the next time you find yourself scrolling through Zillow listings, embrace the chance to dream and discover the countless versions of yourself that exist within a world of possibilities. After all, each click brings you closer to understanding the home—and life—you genuinely desire.
