Three weeks on the road—or in the air. And now I am home.
Home, where I sleep in my own bed, eat the food I’ve prepared, 
and greet the daylilies still blooming in the yard.
I can enjoy the view from the chaise in our bedroom while I write and revel in the silences and the stillness as my body returns to East Coast time and recovers from the stresses of different routines and beds and being constantly with other people.
The Romance Writers of America conference is an opportunity for me to be inspired by, educated by, and connected to any of the 2000 women (and a few men) who attend. I love that I can meet a woman from Australia, another from England, another from New Zealand, and yet another from Canada while riding the elevator to and from my room or walking to workshops. We talk about finding an agent, writing a synopsis, book promotion, the challenges of social media, and on and on, my brain whirring at top speed.
I love all that social energy after weeks and months pretty much in isolation at our home in the country…until I don’t have the energy for it anymore.
By then, I am thirsting for, starving for my solitude. Returning home where I am surrounded by trees and marsh and birds, restores my sense of grounding, of peace. I love the privacy and the quiet. And then there are the views. For me, the view outside my windows is all green at this time of year, green leaves of trees and grass and wild things. The view here changes with the seasons. That is part of its magic and nourishment.
But you may not be like me. You may prefer the hustle and bustle of city living, where a short walk brings you to your favorite coffee shop or bookstore. Or you may prefer the in-between world of the suburbs. A little more quiet than the city but still with that coffee shop not too far away.
What is home for you?
Do you need the hustle and bustle of the people around you or do you need silence and solitude? What do you need to see outside your windows?
How often do you need to leave home in order to get the stimulation and connection you need?
And how long can you travel before you hear the call, feel the pull to return home?