People often assume I choose places because they’re beautiful or inexpensive. While I certainly appreciate a beautiful space, that’s not actually how I decide where to live. I cook most of my meals at home and I also work from home, so practicalities are a big part of my decision.
I also enjoy spending time at home, so the look and feel of a space matter to me. I’m a Libra and clutter or clashing colors truly upset my sense of balance. I naturally gravitate toward places that feel simple, calm and inviting. At the same time, I travel on a budget, which means those perfectly designed apartments you see on Instagram are usually out of reach.
Over the years, I’ve realized that what makes a place feel like home has very little to do with expensive interiors. It’s about whether I can build a life there—one filled with simple routines that help me feel grounded in my daily life.
Home Begins with My Mornings
My mornings are sacred.
I need to wake with the sunrise and step outside, even if it’s only for a few minutes. I need light and fresh air. One of my greatest pleasures is drinking my morning tea or coffee in a garden or courtyard while listening to the birds. I sit quietly and watch the world come alive. It’s a kind of meditation.
I make every effort not to look at my phone until after I’ve lit my incense, said my simple morning mantra, and finish my tea. If there’s a beautiful view, even better—but I’ve learned that beautiful views often come with higher price tags.
More than anything, I need the first hour of my day to feel peaceful, filled with light, fresh air, and enough quiet to ease into the day.
The Neighborhood Comes First
The neighborhood matters more to me than the apartment itself.
I’m rarely drawn to the busiest tourist areas. Instead, I look for neighborhoods where I can watch everyday life unfold. I notice families walking together in the evenings, small cafés filled with regulars, neighborhood bakeries, and little markets where I can easily buy the essentials.
Those ordinary moments tell me far more about a place than its most famous attractions.
Why I Walk Everywhere
Walkability is probably the single most important factor when I choose a home.
I usually look for neighborhoods that are a 15–20 minute walk from the places I’ll visit regularly. Being slightly outside the tourist center often means quieter streets, lower prices, and a more authentic neighborhood. It’s also a convenient way to organically discover local gems that might not have made it to Google Maps.
Walking is always a part of my daily routine. It’s a big factor in how I stay fit and healthy. It gets me out of the house when I’ve been working all day and gives me the chance to observe how people actually live. For me, that’s one of the greatest gifts of living somewhere I’m not from. I observe, I learn, and over time, the unfamiliar begins to feel familiar.
The Market Is My Compass
In almost every place I live, the local market becomes my compass.
Whether it’s within walking distance or a short ride away, I know I’ll spend much of my time there. Depending on the country or city, it’s where I buy most of my groceries, discover what’s in season, and learn how people cook and eat.
In places like Oaxaca, Mexico, the markets are the heart of the community. You quickly learn who sells the sweetest mangoes, the freshest herbs, or the best avocados. Shopping there isn’t just about buying food—it’s about participating in everyday life.
Over time, the vendors begin to recognize you. They know you’re still the slightly odd foreigner asking too many questions, but they also see that you’re making an effort. You’re supporting the local economy, cooking with local ingredients, and choosing the market over the supermarket. They’re proud of their stalls, generous with their knowledge, and always willing to answer my endless questions.
Looking for Rhythm, Not Perfection
Whether I’m choosing a home for one month or six, I’m not searching for perfection.
I’m looking for a place where I can settle into the local rhythm while continuing the rituals that matter to me. Somewhere I can cook, walk, practice yoga, shop at the market, and build a life that feels both healthy and sustainable.
Every place has inconveniences. Walking through sweltering heat to buy eggs and mangoes can feel endless. Loud motorcycles and modified mufflers can test my patience. No place is perfect.
But perfection has never been the goal. The goal is to create a life I genuinely enjoy, wherever I happen to be.
The Joy of Returning
As much as I enjoy discovering new places, returning to one of my “homes” is one of the greatest pleasures of this lifestyle.
Life becomes easier when you already know where the market is and which vendor sells your favorite fruit. When the sweet cat living on the property greets you and graces you with her presence. When you know exactly where to go for your morning walk. When the owner of your favorite café greets you by name—or surprises you with a free brownie simply because you’ve become a familiar face.
Those moments remind me that home isn’t something I’ve left behind. It’s something I create, again and again, in different corners of the world.
Home is an Ordinary Day
I’ve learned that I don’t fall in love with destinations. I fall in love with ordinary days.
If I can picture myself buying vegetables at the market, walking the same streets each day, unrolling my yoga mat, arranging fresh flowers in my apartment, and settling into a rhythm that feels healthy and sustainable, then I know I’ve found another home.