A New Meaning of Home

I’m in a cabin called Pete Gillies, but we don’t ever call it that. Sometimes it’s Gillies we call it, but most of the time it’s home. It’s certainly not the 4 walls that make it that, or the doors, or the windows, it’s the 5 people. Nora, Shea, Elsa, Cadence, and I are what make Gillies a home. I’ve lived in a lot of places in my life, I’ve called a lot of places home, but I’ve never meant it like I do now. I used to think my childhood home was Swift Street, but now I know it’s 485 Chewonki Neck Road.

Before coming to Chewonki, I couldn’t fathom living in the same room with four other people, but the minute I arrived, that view changed. I was immediately surrounded by this unexplainable love. Sure, there were some awkward moments and uncertainties, but truly, that didn’t last for long. The memories I’ve gathered in our home will stay with me forever. The countless late-night laughs, getting ready every day together, wood stove fires, digital camera selfies, waking up at 3 am for lamb watch all together, sharing clothes and snacks, productive cabin meetings, all things I hope everyone gets to experience in their lifetime. I had never been so supported by people in my life. Our cabin curates an aura of warmth that we all contribute to daily. Living with other people has been an incredible opportunity that I’ve learned so much from: that I can live with other people, and I love to live with other people.

As our semester comes to an end, I fear the loneliness that will come with going home and having my own room. A feeling I didn’t imagine I would have before coming to Maine Coast Semester. I hope this short blog post can bring anyone who is thinking about living with others peace. Whatever experience you have, go into it open-minded, ready to have an experience of a lifetime, and willing to have a new idea of what home means.