“Where is home?”
If someone had asked me that question five years ago, I would have paused.
I was born in Florida, but spent my adolescent years in Singapore. Then, I returned to the US for college before moving to Mozambique, Venezuela, Australia, Sudan, Thailand, the US again, Poland, and Ukraine.
The first time I moved to a new place was when I was 13 years old. I remember feeling uncertain: All I’d known was Florida’s climate, American cuisine, and weekends spent waterskiing at the lake.
Singapore was a massive adjustment. Suddenly, I was living on an island with high-rise buildings, a modern public transit system, and a myriad of cultures, languages, food, and religious beliefs — and I loved it.
My move to Singapore set in motion a desire to explore new places. I sought out a career as a US diplomat that allowed me to travel to, live in, and learn about other countries. I met my husband, also a US diplomat, on my first day of work.
After 10 years, I resigned to become a stay-at-home mom, but our family continued to move around the world as my husband received new assignments.
Through nearly three decades of travel, I started to understand myself better. With each move, I embraced the philosophy that the only constant in life is change — and I thrived when exploring new places.
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When we moved to Rhode Island, I finally saw myself staying in one place for good
Loren Braunohler
Then, in 2018, my husband got an assignment that brought us to coastal Rhode Island. We were quickly embraced by our neighbors, from the lobster fisherman down the street to the parents from the local elementary school.
Almost instantly, they made us feel like a part of the community by inviting us into their homes, filling us in on the local festivals and best-kept secret spots, and encouraging us to join neighborhood sports teams and activities.
During what was our shortest assignment to any place, ever, I discovered that many of the attributes I had come to love about other cultures existed here.
I witnessed the same care for the environment and appreciation for work-life balance that I found in Australia, and the connection to the outdoors and full realization of the seasons that I loved in Poland.
There was an unassuming sense of peace and beauty that reminded me of Mozambique. Our neighbors’ warm, inviting attitude reminded me of the people I met in Thailand.
For the first time, it occurred to me that this could be a place where I’d be happy to stay.
I’ve found a sense of belonging that solidified Rhode Island as my forever home
Loren Braunohler
After leaving Rhode Island in 2019, we spent the next three years in Washington, DC, and Ukraine.
Every summer, though, we returned to Rhode Island to visit friends and create summer traditions: savoring a cup of frozen lemonade on the beach, taking a nature walk at Sachuest Point, and learning new tricks at sailing camp.
In 2022, we jumped on the opportunity to return to Rhode Island for a three-year assignment. Moving back here felt like coming home.
The best thing about our town is the strong sense of community. Adults and children are welcomed into the community band and theater, nonprofits teach people about the local marine environment, and residents organize Hallmark-like holiday celebrations every year.
The town bakeries and bars are immensely valuable community gathering spots that support local artists and students by championing their work.
Residents volunteer to coach youth sports, assist at the food pantry, beautify the island’s public spaces, safeguard our historical sites, and so much more.
Loren Braunohler
So many people here take on a role greater than themselves to make this place extraordinary, creating a sense of community and belonging. It was the final puzzle piece of “home” that I didn’t know was missing.
No one place has it all figured out, but Jamestown, Rhode Island, comes pretty close. We bought a home here in 2023, and although we have a couple of overseas adventures left, we know this will be our final destination.
It took me 40 years to find my “home.” If I had found it earlier, though, would I have appreciated it as much? Would I have understood why its special nature suited me so well?
Decades of travel and living abroad have culminated in a feeling of comfort, ease, and belonging in Jamestown, and finally an answer to the question, “Where is home?”
