{"id":367,"date":"2019-06-12T12:00:02","date_gmt":"2019-06-12T12:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=173521"},"modified":"2019-06-12T12:00:02","modified_gmt":"2019-06-12T12:00:02","slug":"life-in-paris-part-3-nothing-lasts-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourfunjourney.com\/index.php\/2019\/06\/12\/life-in-paris-part-3-nothing-lasts-forever\/","title":{"rendered":"Life in Paris, Part 3: Nothing Lasts Forever"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Matt
\nPosted:<\/strong> 6\/12\/2019 | June 12th, 2019<\/p>\n

The end is here. After four months in Europe, I head home tomorrow.<\/p>\n

When I came to Paris earlier this year<\/a>, everyone asked if it was forever. <\/p>\n

And, when I said I wasn’t sure, people would reply, \u201cOh, so you aren\u2019t really<\/i> moving there, huh?\u201d \u2014 as if to say that only a forever and ever move is a real move. <\/p>\n

But I did<\/i> move here. This is where my stuff is. This is my home (even if it might only be temporary). <\/p>\n

In my world, there\u2019s no such thing as a forever and ever move.<\/p>\n

I have no job that keeps me anywhere in particular. No boss to call me into the office and say, \u201cMatt, we\u2019re transferring you to the Paris<\/a> office. Pack your bags. We got your visa. You\u2019re there for the next five years.\u201d <\/p>\n

No. I get to taste the milk before I buy the cow. <\/p>\n

My time here was always an experiment: could I live in a city I loved so much? Would daily life in Paris<\/a> be as magical as travel in Paris<\/a>?<\/p>\n

No matter the answer to those questions, I always had to leave for the summer. Books<\/a> and conferences<\/a> don\u2019t launch themselves! <\/p>\n

So will I come back? Did I love Paris so much that I\u2019m ready to make this the<\/i> spot where I put down my roots? <\/p>\n

While walking through the Luxembourg Gardens recently, I realized two things:<\/p>\n

First, I don\u2019t miss New York City<\/a>. I haven\u2019t thought about NYC in a long, long time. I really<\/i> am over living there. <\/p>\n

While I miss my friends and local haunts, I don\u2019t miss the noise, crowds, or fast-paced lifestyle. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll always have a place for NYC in my heart. <\/p>\n

And I will visit often. <\/p>\n

But my time living there has truly come to an end. <\/p>\n

As I\u2019ve alluded to many times, I want to settle down. I\u2019ve been a leaf blowing in the wind long enough, and it\u2019s time to plant roots.<\/p>\n

Today is my birthday. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m thirty-eight years old. <\/p>\n

My next move is the<\/i> move. One that has to last longer than a few months. I don’t want to restart my life anymore. <\/p>\n

So, is Paris that place? Do I really want to settle down and try to live here? Sign a lease? Get residency visas and a bank account? Start paying taxes here? <\/p>\n

street<\/p>\n

Paris has become my little respite from the world. A city that comes alive at night when the cafes overflow with people, the traffic disappears, and the orange glow of the streetlights makes the city seem mystical. <\/p>\n

I loved living here. This city inspired me. I’ve slept more, eaten better, wrote more, read more, and relaxed in ways that I haven’t in years. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ve gotten into a nice routine here, made a few friends, and frequented my boulangerie so much I don\u2019t even need to order any more. They know it by heart.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sadder than I thought I\u2019d be about leaving. These last few days have made me melancholy. I’m really going to miss it!<\/p>\n

But, as much as I love – and will miss – Paris, this is not my forever and ever city. <\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t feel<\/em> like home the way other places have.<\/p>\n

It was what I needed when I needed it. <\/p>\n

But it is not my home. <\/p>\n

Instead, my mind goes constantly goes back to one place: Austin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It<\/i> calls to me. <\/p>\n

Over and over again.<\/p>\n

There I can get space, nature, nice weather, and land. It’s my Goldilocks city. <\/p>\n

So I\u2019m moving back to Austin. <\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t second-guessed that decision once.<\/p>\n

Which, being a Gemini and all, means it\u2019s probably the right one. <\/p>\n

\n

Book Your Trip to Paris: Logistical Tips and Tricks<\/h4>\n

Book Your Flight<\/strong>
\nFind a cheap flight by using Skyscanner<\/a> or Momondo<\/a>. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.<\/p>\n

Book Your Accommodation<\/strong>
\nYou can book your hostel with Hostelworld<\/a>. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com<\/a> as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. Some of my favorite places to stay in Paris are:<\/p>\n