i need to ask..

[Ayshela]

Two bits of info before i do, though:

 

While i love you all and you're all more than welcome in my inbox for any reason or none at all, this is not currently something i can explain, because it's not directly *my* question - so a barrage of "what's up?" won't help.

 

And in reassurance for those who might jump to confusions - since this is not directly my question, you can take it as read that it has *nothing* to do with my current living situation.

 

 

The multi-faceted question itself, for which i really need as many perspectives as possible:

 

What is "home"? How do you define that? What does that mean to you? How do you know when you're "home"?

[Finnius]

Home to me is a place that you feel safe and loved. Home is people, not places. In my life, I've only ever felt at home once, and I'm not really sure how to explain exactly how I recognized it... I just knew.

 

I had an absolute *knowing* that this was safe, and right, and that there was love and comfort and stability and warmth. Turned out to be wrong on two of those, but it was still home, or at least it felt like it.

 

Anyway, to sum it up:

 

Home = People that love and care about you, and will be there when you need them. Whenever you're with those people, you're home. Ok, so actually I've been at home two times, then.

[The Big Pointy One]

The default webpage on your browser.

 

;p

 

Seriously though, I don't really delve into it. Home's your place of shelter and food... but also, the place where you feel most comfortable. I'm living with my parents right now, there's shelter, but I don't feel so comfortable. Last year, when I had my house, and lived with my best friend, that was home.

 

Edited August 6, 2004 by The Big Pointy One

[Peredhil]

I'm with Finnius. Home is people.

 

Home is where I can sleep deeply with the door unlocked, and if it opens I wake up anticipating who it is rather than "should I be concerned who this is?"

[cryptomancer]

I belive in the words of a song, that say this best for me.

the sentiment is the same as the one that has already been given.

 

 

You're my Home

by, Billy Joel

 

 

When you look into my eyes

and you see the crazy gypsy in my soul.

It always comes as a surprise

when I feel my withered roots begin to grow.

Well I never had a place that I could

call my very own.

But that's alright my love

'cause you're my home.

When you touch my weary head

and you tell me everything will be alright.

You say, "use my body for your bed,

and my love will keep you warm throughout the night"

Well I'll never be a stranger,

and I'll never be alone.

Where ever we're together that's my home.

Home can be the Pennsylvania turnpike.

Indiana early morning dew.

High up in the hills of Calafornia.

Home is just another word for you.

If I travelled all my life,

and I never get to stop and settle down.

Long as I have you by my side

there's a roof above and good walls all around.

You're my castle, You're my cabin,

and my instant pleasure dome

I need you in my house

'cause you're my home

Edited August 6, 2004 by cryptomancer

[Alaeha]

Don't remember where I saw it, but I saw something or another with a cutesy little phrase that sums it up:

 

Home is where you hang your heart.

[Tanuchan]

Nothing new to add to what has said here... home for me is where you feel safe, protected, loved. Where you can go to when there's a storm, knowing you'll have at least a brief respite. Where you can breath and forget or reflect, as you choose.

 

I read this somewhere... Home is where your heart is. It doesn't need to be a place... can be a person. I feel at home with my boyfriend, wherever we happen to be. Talking to him, or just being together, has possibly more meaning for me than being physically at "home" (meaning, the house I live in). Having a physical home is important, having a home for the heart, also. Having both together, in the same 'place', is happiness

 

*wanders away, thinking why she felt so suddenly philosophical... *

[Gwaihir]

Home is where I go to find the people who I know always care....sometimes.

Other times home is where I go to find my things, my space, to find the spot where I organize my life. The comfortable spot.

To me it all depends on whether we're talking about home as in a physical place that we live (if so I have no home yet, but will in a week or two) or home as the place we love.

[Ayshela]

Thank you all so much! This was exactly what i was hoping for, and precisely why i obtained permission to post the question here.. where better to ask than where wordcraft is practiced?

 

I'll leave this run through the weekend then consolidate responses and send them on.

 

Thank you. If i could reach, i'd hug every one of you personally.

 

*glomps each and every one of you*

[Katzaniel]

You asked for different perspectives. I have two ideas of home... One which has already been thoroughly described, and the other which has not.

 

Home can also be simply your "home base". Where you live or used to live, or where your parents or friends live. My home has suddenly moved many times, from within one city and then to another city and then back again. It's gone from being just one place to two places to three and back to two. But, according to perspective #2, it's not necessarily a place where you feel comfortable, or a place you want to be. Just the place you spend all your time when you're not doing everything else.

[Lady Celes Crusader]

Home... I have two definitions for that:

 

1. The place where you created your intimacy alone or with the one(s) you love.

 

2. The place where you grew up and always come back for a visit as some kind of ressourcing.

 

So according to my definitions, I have two homes.

[Ayshela]

*nods*

for me, there's only ever been one geographical *place* which called to me of "home" and that's the wheat fields where i spent my early childhood.

 

far more practically, for *me*.. home is people. home is being with the people you love, and who love you as well - and i do note that the two don't necessarily come together.

 

But, that wasn't a definition she could really work with, because we share the same issues with the notion that someone could love us.. that's *why* the question appears here. How to define a word in a way a close and much loved friend can grasp and use, when the only working definition i *have* is not one she can accept?

 

You all are invaluable, as always..

 

and given my own working definition - here with you all has been home for me for a good long time. Thank you.

[Merelas]

My home is surrounded by wheat fields also! Huzzah for farmers!