Script:

I’m not sure how many listeners or readers here are from Maine (or from rural areas in general).

But I spent the first 19–20 years of my life in Singapore before being brought over to a remote part of Downeast Maine.

So yes, the contrast was…quite dramatic.

The shift from public transport to full car‑dependence alone was a shock to my nervous system.

And honestly, I didn’t know what kind of environment I wanted to live in.

Was I a city person? A countryside person?

In my twenties, I genuinely had no idea.

In my late twenties I moved to Florida to try something different, and over the years I visited a handful of U.S. cities like Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, San Francisco, Vegas, NYC.

All of the above places were interesting, but I still wasn’t feeling “it.”

I’d still like to visit the PNW someday.

And I did love Boston, but…holy smokes, the cost of living. Not realistic for me!

It wasn’t until last year’s spontaneous autumn mini‑road‑trip that something clicked. I finally saw parts of Maine’s wilderness terrain, especially in Downeast, that don’t often show up in tourist brochures.

Pristine conservation areas, quiet stretches of forest, sudden lakes, unexpected views. It spoke to the witch‑hermit side of me that likes wandering around in nature without needing a big reason.

I’ve always preferred remote work, so that’s something I’m going to keep prioritizing. And for now, I’m planning to explore central Maine to see if there’s a place that feels right.

I really believe environment and location shape our happiness and mental health.

Sometimes you only understand what you need by walking through different terrains (cities, coastlines, forests, suburbs) and noticing what your nervous system does in each one.

And if a place doesn’t feel right, it’s not a failure.

It’s just the land saying, “Not here: keep going.”

So you listen, you adjust, and you follow the next trailhead.