Desire to revisit native East Germany, encountering significant opposition
Moving On: Life Beyond Berlin's Bustling Streets
Rollercoaster ConnectionMore like a tumultuous ride, my dear friend, that's me. My lady has been on this moving train for a while now. I need a breather, buddy! I'm hankering for some space - and time to acknowledge that family life with two young whirlwinds excludes a significant chunk of the cultural kicks, culinary delights, and after-dark adventures that Berlin offers, especially without local backup.
I've taken a gander at Germany's gorgeous tapestry over the last 20 years, treading the paths of Hesse, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and the vibrant beating heart of Berlin. Berlin, a stone's throw from my hometown in the northeast, you might say. Yet month after month, box after box, pile after pile, trek after trek - the constant grind of coming home has started to wear me down. The day-to-day dance without local help - an unending battle.
This is the feeling I'm experiencing now - but living in Berlin was a fantastic, eye-opening journey for her for 20 years, and it was a decent dozen for me. Our children were birthed here, lungs filled with this city's spirit. That'll never change.
Saying Goodbye to Berlin's Shimmering Dream
But raising the kids in one of the world's hotspots? Nah, it just doesn't sit right with us. Berlin might be a bubble, a topic of constant debate with my Neubrandenburg comrades who dig the city life. It's rare to find much mingling in our neighborhoods, while in others, where I wouldn't feel safe walking the streets with Jewish women donning kippahs or gay couples strolling hand-in-hand, I don't even want to call it home. Add the ever-present noise, the ceaseless flow of people, and the city's functionality issues at every turn.
It's long been said: Jobs in the east, affordable accommodation in the west. Not any longer, my friends, not for us and many others. Especially for my therapist sidekick and due to the shortage of medical supplies "in the countryside" (even though Neubrandenburg is the third-largest city in the region), there are more tempting offers. Even as a media head, I've got some promising options up my sleeve. That lengthy apartment hunt, though? It's still going strong.
It's like it always is: Either it's quick or it drags on forever. Our journey includes fixer-upper apartments that a man with two opposable thumbs can barely handle, crowded viewing sessions with 20+ hopeful families (only to find out it's a smoking apartment), and apartment buildings with nonexistent or cramped windows, to maisonette apartments with steep, space-saving stairs (perilous with a two- and four-year-old, I learned the hard way). Back and forth we go, facing expectations and disappointments. Summers are lean, and desperation ensues.
Enough is enough. We're taking a leap of faith. Shifting schools, switching jobs twice, moving towns, and apartments - all in the name of family. But that's not all. Our hearts yearn to return to our roots.
As 18-year-olds, we couldn't wait to escape this tiny town, on a mission to explore the world, to take the leap towards something bigger. Now, we appreciate the peace, the greenery, and the local haunts. Just a three-minute stride to the lake, animals and parks at our fingertips, a city offering more for the younger generation than it did 20 years ago. And as the wise ones say, "Family is everything."
Freedom From the Berlin Whirlwind
"Eventually, Berlin just gets to you," I often find myself muttering. Those who continue to venture further out within the city, searching for quieter climes without leaving the urban landscape, might as well go all the way to the small town.
And honestly? If we miss Berlin, we can be there within two hours. If Trettmann plays, Nina Chuba sings, or an electro night calls - we can still hit the dancefloor.
Of course, nothing is ever simply black or white, and living the fairytale isn't without its drawbacks.
More on this in the upcoming installment of our local column, "I'm back."
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- Moving away from the bustling streets of Berlin means leaving behind the vibrant nightlife and cultural experiences, but it's a necessary step to prioritize family-dynamics and cultivate a more tranquil lifestyle at home-and-garden.
- The shift from the Berlin whirlwind to a quieter lifestyle will allow for better relationships to flourish, as the family reconnects with their roots and embraces the peace, greenery, and local community of their hometown.
