What is home?

I’ve always been fond of the quote, “home is where the heart is.” But, realistically, I’ve always felt like I have multiple homes. The place that I was born? Northern Virginia. The place where I have a ton of childhood memories? Central Georgia. The place that I grew up? Fredericksburg. The place I’ve lived the longest (and my most formative years)? Blacksburg.

I can’t pick one. The one that rises to the top most naturally is definitely Blacksburg. That’s where my heart is. I take vacations there. I go back every single chance I get. I still provide most of community service and donations of time, money,e tc. to that place. But now, physically, I live in the D.C. Metro area.

There is one quote I discovered century that I think explain this “phenomenon” very well. It actually was the bookend on an episode of a show I watch frequently – Criminal Minds. Can you have your heart in many places?

Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave,
but not our hearts.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.