Settling down while you're on top

Christiania, Köpenhavn, Danmark

The sweetness of nicotine gum is tainted by the bitter taste of morning coffee. Window wide open to trees hissing along early autumn winds. It feels like good time for closure, a call to unravel the muses that kept me away from typing away the things that made or did not make my days. This post is dedicated to new found freedom, to the heightening feeling of self achievement away from self absorption. To being self conscience without being selfish. Alright now, enough with the wisdom pills.

Two weeks ago, I was on the cross road. If I drove left, I'd head south, if I drove right, I'd head north. While debating the destiny of my short vacation, or long weekend as it is called up here, a pair of hitch-hikers turned up on the side of the road. I stopped. A girl with a flower in her hair dropped by, asked me where I was going, I replied with the same question. "Copenhagen." Alright, southwards it is, to Denmark. The land of the "happiest people on earth," continental liberties and in your face, positive racial slants.

My new found travel companions, guy with guitar and girl in the back.

The road took us past Vättern, Swedens largest lake, where we were able to lay off the "social complements" and become travel buddies, as we dipped in the sea in our underwear and entertain sun tanning tourists on the peer. For the first time since I started driving out of metropolitan Stockholm earlier that day, I found what I was looking for, the new found freedom of being myself on the road. After drying up in a hot Swedish summer sun, ecological sandwiches and not so ecological ice cream, we were back in the car for a few hours' drive to the half-bridge, half-tunnel Öresund "bridge", the only physical link between Sweden and continental Europe.

We "couch-surfed" at a Danish guy's place, arriving a bit later than we should due to the extensive network of traffic lights in Copenhagen. I felt I've been in monopoly Sweden far too long when I was amused that normal shops, like 7 eleven, sell wine round the clock.

Anyway, next morning, we made for central Copenhagen and the infamous, self-proclaimed autonomous, "Freetown Christiania", a place marvelled by my own teen hood dreams and tales. "You are now exiting the EU," read the sign at the neighbourhood's entrance. The law there is simple, three ground rules: No violence, No drugs, No photography. Ironic as it may seem to many, the town is known for its free and open attitude to marijuana - which is sold in many shapes and forms at booths around town. The graffiti there was stunning, but apart from it, one could feel that this town is nothing but the shadow of a former glory, like a deserted old town in a western film. Yet, there are the odd junkies who are stoned and barely active on odd corners and under trees.

Going through Christiania, and leaving it totally sober, was a sobering, yet marvellous experience. What sounded like a high point in life, was just a passing moment to marvel at, and look back at with a smile, I am over the party life, over exposing myself to the odd intrigues offered at every corner whenever I looked out for them. I am all settled down, and I do not do anything that I do not feel like doing for the sake of doing it. I do not put energy or spend time more than I need on things that don't make me feel at ease (ironic as this may sound, being in Christiania and all).

Fast forward and back home, up north and down to earth, my life has changed slowly but surely in the past few months. Having a steady, 9-5 job that I like, collecting karma points being a communicator at a prestigious global water institute, and spending my evenings in the comfort of my own 45 square meter flat. Being single with no strings attached anywhere, and resorting to the inner comfort of a heightened sense of freedom derived from a steady and good income, and the possibilities and promises of travelling further and further widening my perspective on life.

For the first time, I could relate to and understand the meaning of inner growth and the comfort of being oneself, without angst, without pressure. When putting myself in "uncomfortable" situations is synonym to "exotic and exciting" experiences that enrich and do not drag my life down.

I'll just save a penny a day for the ferry, and when autumn is in full gloom, I'll leave to a place where summer is just about to start, with a back pack, a notepad, and possibly a guitar.