Considering a list of the best reading destinations (treehouse, bathtub, beach, library, etc.) I wonder if it’s more important to first determine if the ideal reading location is within your own residence or somewhere away from home.
Of course a lot of us do not have our ideal home or daily living circumstances, bringing us back to the question of whether we read to escape or to reach a destination.
Before we can answer that question, it is imperative we 1) feel permitted to guiltlessly enjoy reading, and 2) have a vision of our ideal home and living situation, and we feel permitted to make space designed for immersively enjoying this thing we love so much: READING.
Are we allowed to safely rest and recreate at home without interruption, judgment, or sabotage? Do our housemates or family respect and nurture each other’s space and make room for solitary pursuits as much as communal activities and active togetherness? Do the people you live with interrupt or invade your privacy when you’re in the bathroom?
Some of these things are difficult to avoid when you don’t have a lot of money or enough resources, or are genuinely impossible if you’re taking care of small children. But if you live with people who do not value or respect even the NOTION of individuals having quiet time to oneself focused on a book (or a video game or a hobby or prayer/meditation or a nap), you need something more permanent than a vacation; you need a whole new way of daily living that allows for true rest and restoration.
We introverts and bookworms need to believe sanctuary is our destiny and something everybody needs and deserves, not a selfish pursuit we’re only allowed to enjoy one week out of the year if we’ve scrimped & saved to set aside enough time and money for the “luxury” of reading “lazily” income exotic not-home location.
For some of us, a lot of the time: HOME IS THE DESTINATION. What then? How do we make home our favorite place to travel, and the safest place to be ourselves?