The decision I made to leave the Netherlands did not happen overnight, because it was not an easy decision. I always wanted to move away from the busy city where I lived. I wanted and longed for a quiet place where enjoying your life was paramount. My son wanted to come with me, but ex didn't want to talk about it.

I made a trip that I absolutely would not have wanted to miss and I would do it again in a heartbeat. But let me tell you; It's not always easy to have to arrange everything on your own.

I'm sitting in the big easy chair. The chair I always sit in. When my mother comes home, she says goodbye and puts away the groceries. She calls from the kitchen that we're having spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight. Spaghetti and meatballs are my favorite food. I hear the kettle on. My mother always puts it on, and then we have a cup of tea together before the rest of us come home. My family consists of my mother, father, brother, younger sister, and me.

Lately, I have been in doubt whether the place I have longed for, for so long is really the right one. Although I have friends and even a second family here, as well as having found the house that suits me, I sometimes wonder if this is really the right place. My heart is here, in this fantastic country.

The woman on the bench sat on the same bench day after day. She sat there and at times it seemed like it was and statue, sitting so still. She sat with her eyes closed, with a satisfied smile around the corners of her mouth, listening to nature. To the birds singing, the bees buzzing. She herself heard the squirrels jumping from one branch to another. Passersby said hello to the lady and the lady politely nodded back.