The Idea Of It Scares Me

By John McLachlan

In my post Ten Romantic Reasons For Living Out Beyond the third reason I gave was that the idea of it scares me.

This will seem strange to anyone who currently lives in the country and is fully adjusted to their lifestyle, but to someone who has always lived in the city, there are things about the shift that are a tad scary.

I have an element of fear about what it will be like in late February on a west coast island after several months of grey weather and dampness. Will I be stir-crazy? Will I want to flee to Mexico?

I have an element of fear regarding living in such a small community where everyone knows each other’s business. Will this drive me nuts?

I have an element of fear around the isolation from current friends and family. Will the connections start to fade and will I see less and less of them because it’s not convenient? Who will I stay in touch with? Who will I lose?

These are the types of things I think about in the upcoming move from my urban existence where I’ve lived for 50 years.

It’s interesting what reactions I get from people when I tell them that I’m moving from a downtown urban setting to a house on an island. Some, think I’m nuts and say I will deeply regret it warning that I won’t have an array of cultural events, restaurants or friends nearby to see, while others can’t even fathom why it’s even an issue as though any person in their right mind would leave the urban setting.

I suppose, I’m somewhere in between. I really do like the city and what it offers. I like the energy of it and the variety of experiences it offers but I also know it’s all I’ve ever known and for years I’ve had a desire to live differently.

I know this desire to live differently is a romantic one, but living more quietly, remotely or more “out beyond” is something that is a little scary to me and that fear seems like something I have to just face and go for.

What moves have you made in your life that scared you? Were they worth it? Is being scared a good reason for living out beyond?