Home (warning: LONG and rambling!)

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the concept of "home". I am sure that everyone probably has a different definition of what home is, but to me it has always been something very important and very much at the forefront of my mind...I think largely because I have had at least 14 homes (in the structural sense of the word). Growing up, home was a safe space, an intimate space, where my family and I could be together. (My dad was in the Air Force and being together as a family was something that I cherished very much!) Do you have more than one place that feels like home? I do, and they are not always physical buildings. My house in Auburn has never 100% felt like home, maybe because it is mobile ;-), I don't know. Nor has my parents house in Virginia ever felt 100% like my home (Mom- if you read this don't be sad, I always feel home whenever I'm with our family no matter where it is!). I lost the last physical place that I really felt like was "home" after my in laws sold their house in Wetumpka. My parents house there had always seemed "home" but they moved 4 years ago. My house in Nashville seemed like home but again, I haven't actually lived there in almost 4 years. After getting married it takes a while to go from saying "home" in reference to where your parents live to saying "home" in reference to you and your spouses house. Being with Jason always makes me feel at home. Being with my close friends makes me feel at home...even if we are in the middle of a very public space. When I am at church I feel at home. I guess all that to say is my definition of home is that it is not just a physical dwelling, but the space where you share your life with those who are close to you! However, I think the memories made in a physical dwelling often tie us to that dwelling in a way that makes us miss it when we are no longer there. There are several reasons I have been thinking about home lately. One of which is that Jason and I are selling our mobile home and (many prayers needed on this one!) hopefully buying a house here in the Auburn area. Another reason I have been thinking about home is that I am reading the book A Search to Belong (Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups) by Joseph Myers. This is an awesome book that I would recommend to anyone who has ever been involved with a small group! In it the author examines the relationships between four types of spaces: public, social, personal, and intimate. Great, great, amazing, thought provoking book. Read it, seriously. You can borrow mine if you want. However, today I was reading about how in our country the definition and expectation of "space" has changed (from front porches and picket fences, to pre fab houses and strip malls). Just thinking about how our culture is so disconnected (and also feeling guilty that I don't know any of my neighbor's names but 1) I am wondering what my definition (and societies) of "home" will be in 10 years....20 years. How will all my huge, life changing decisions in the next few weeks and months (job, house, etc) effect my definition of home once again. I love being home. Having my home be a calm, safe space away from the crazy world is important to me. But I also want my home to be a calm, safe space to others as well. There really is no deep point here, only that I wonder about all you in blog world and what you think about the concept of "home". One thing I am sure of and glad I know...heaven is my REAL home and this earth is only temporary (on some days I am SO happy to remind myself of this fact!).