zlacker

Disagree. I grew up in Scandinavia but have since lived many different places all over the world and for me it remains enjoyable to move someplace new, get to know it and the culture over a few years, and if I stagnate or get bored, switch it up again. It has also paradoxically been good both for my career and personal life. (exposed to more potential jobs, friends, partners etc I otherwise wouldn't have)

YMMV and it's certainly not for everyone. But I'm skeptical that staying in your comfort zone your whole life will do anyone much favors. (and the odd few week trip here or there doesn't really count, by all means all travel is great but vacation and just passing places through is fundamentally different from spending at least a few months or even years somewhere)

>>bedobi+(OP)
> stagnate or get bored, switch it up again

Isn’t that exactly what the comic is about?

I will say that I met my wife traveling and my kids were born on a different continent than me. There is a lot to find out there but travel as a value itself gets old and doesn’t fulfill your soul like it felt like it would when I was young.

>>redism+x1
Sure, the act of travelling seems to be his bade state which stays constant. Like, you can not travel and be content with what you have. Or you can travel and be content with switching it up.

>>redism+x1
To me, it seems like the comic is saying, rather than using a switch in your environment as a crutch for happiness, find happiness in your routine.

Having a routine that makes you happy is important and not bad advice!

But sometimes, at least for me, I kind of exhaust my options for happiness in a given environment. Eg maybe I've already gotten a job with the best employer in a given location and can't climb any higher professionally, friends have moved away or started a family or whatever, hobbies and activities that used to be novel and fun have become repetitive and dull, I've mastered the local language I wanted to learn etc etc.

That feeling, combined with a basically infinite and always in flux list of places and things I want to experience before my time is up, makes switching my environment up very powerful and enjoyable for me.

Happily admit there's downsides to not "settling down" too and it's not for everyone. But I think most people would benefit from fundamentally switching up their environment at least a few times in their life. If it turns out you were happier where you started you can always go back. But you'll never know other places if you don't give them a shot.

>>bedobi+r3
I agree - I also feel like it would be dumb luck to have been born in the place best suited for me. I’d rather experience a few places that seem appealing and then pick one. Life of course gets in the way but that’s been my way so far. With young kids and getting more responsibilities I think it’s time to slow down and settle for a while.

>>redism+x1
It is what the comic is saying, but the conclusion is different. The comic concludes that we should not attempt to escape by changing routine, but we must accept the routine and find ways to relax within it. The previous poster says that the excitement of changing your routine is a good solution, although temporary, it's still helpful.

I tend to agree: it's really nice to build up experiences and "novel routines". But you can't do it forever, at some point this becomes a "meta-routine" that drains you (it's not easy to keep changing your life).

The idea that it's better to stay where you are and instead meditate and build up good habits is great and I subscribe to it, but with caution. It should not be an alternative solution to, say, escaping a toxic work environment or a bad place. You shouldn't "meditate away" real problems.

>>redism+14
1) is this novelty curve, when the thrill is gone etc.

2) happiness. In my understanding it’s a decision about how to view life in general, which couples to endocrine system responses

3) the opportunities and relative merits of different places. I heard said that XYZ is a good/bad place to do PFQ activity

>>martop+fm
Isn't it only in the context that wherever you go you need a routine I.e work? So does this argument break down for FIREd people, is it money problem?

>>redism+14
My answer to people when asked too: of I was dropped by the sky would I chose this city? If not then I should go to my chosen one.

>>bedobi+(OP)
for me, moving = giving up close friends. in my heart I love them but in reality we quickly lose touch because we can no longer do things together. sure I can try to make new friends at the new place but it seems to get harder the older I get and there's a part of me who feels like staying long term in one place for those long term connections is better than lots of acquaintances all over the world

>>bedobi+(OP)
> lived many different places all over the world ... get to know it and the culture over a few years

You are missing the point. The article focuses on mindless tourism as a source of excitement rather than any deeper meaning.

Taking pictures for instagram has little to do with exiting your comfort zone.