I’m sitting in a cafe in a small city I’m thinking of moving to. It’s small, has ample tables to sit and read at, and makes a good place to continue my morning ritual of tea, danish and book, should I put down new roots here.

Then I think, why am I thinking of this? A new place would surely mean new rituals, with new ways to flourish and new ways to encourage my daily health. The bakery at home meets my needs perfectly, but I also adapted to its schedule and presence. There will be adapting no matter where I move; it’s a matter of looking at which places are more amenable to the kinds of health and flourishing I want to encourage in my life.

Still, some places are more amenable than others. One of the reasons I moved away from a rural apartment that suited me in many ways, was its remoteness. I wanted and still need the nearness of options to get out of my head by getting out of my house, and walking, biking, and public transportation are all options in Providence. They’re also here, in a more limited sense.

So, here I am, in this cafe, that isn’t the same as the one near my home, but could be if I moved. The ideas and possibilities in my mind grow.