San Francisco is a wonderful place. For the five years I was there, I never stopped appreciating the ocean, beautiful weather, creative open-minded people, and most of all the burritos. Though it was hard to complain, it was also time to move on when it stopped being enough of an adventure to balance the high cost of living.

Leaving was sad. It had been a long time coming, but it was still hard to leave everything behind. We left saying goodbye to so many people, and, not unexpectedly, there was no one waiting to greet us on the other side. It was raining, our luggage was lost, and my computer unexpectedly crashed inconsolably. Yet, there was no denying it as an adventure.

This is my husband Jeremy. We were able to move with his job, through a transfer.

Here is what I've learned, in a nutshell:
It's more difficult than I thought, but also more of a learning experience.

I spend a lot of time alone, which I like, but it can be very challenging. I feel more than ever like I am the one reponsible for my own well-being. I'm grateful for all the time I have in my studio, even when it gets lonely.

While people are mostly all the same, when you move to another place it's your job to adapt, and this is difficult. Especially when there isn't a guidebook.

While I often think of how grateful I am to be here, I find I spend more time feeling grateful for my family and friends, and looking forward to living near them again.

Thanks for reading Far Away Places.
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Emily Wright Moore is an illustrator currently living in Munich, Germany. She likes to paint, draw, sculpt, and design. She especially likes making things on the internet so everyone can see them just the same.