The Oxford English Dictionary defines a gypsy as, “A member of a travelling people traditionally living by itinerant trade and fortune telling.” Now if you ask someone from a big city, they may tell you they are beggars or use a term consisting of a few expletives. Gypsies have never been held in very high regard, so why has the term “gypsy syndrome” been used to describe the nomadic lifestyle military families become accustomed to?
Because when it comes down to the bare bones, we kind of are gypsies.. The second, informal definition offered by the dictionary; “a nomadic or free spirited person.” Personally, I don’t know of a better way to describe most of the military brats I know.
When my sister and I were growing up and people would ask us what we wanted to be when we grow up, we would say “anything that lets me live in one place longer than 3 years.” At the time, the idea of staying put, having a home that has your height marked on the wall, and having friends down the street that you’ve grown up with, sounded like paradise. But then you move out and the reality sets in.
My sister felt the syndrome kick in after three years in Los Angeles. My mom felt it big time when 40-some years of nomadism came to an end and she moved into a house where she would live indefinitely. Mine kicked in after four years of college. The symptoms include; restlessness, feelings of entrapment, and the need to spend hours on travel websites.
My sister told me that after living in LA for three years then moving back to Indiana for two years and now getting ready for a move to Tennessee where she and her husband plan to stay for a while; she can’t imagine staying there long enough to put her (future) kids through school. But isn’t this exactly what she wanted years ago when people asked her, “what do you want in the future?” To be quite honest, I do not have the answer on how to become settled in one place. It really is unfathomable. But settling down somewhere doesn’t necessarily mean the adventure ends. It only ends when you let it. Wherever you go, there is always something to go try or explore. It may mean a long drive, or extensive planning, but are we not used to that already?
Don’t be fooled by the connotation of “syndrome,” I think of all the ailments you can be affected by, this is a desirable one. As I’ve said MANY times, think of the stories! We can’t tell fortunes like gypsies claim to, but we can tell some epic stories. We become more understanding of the people and the world around us, and the world begins to shrink.
As always, thank you for reading and please leave your comments!
Because when it comes down to the bare bones, we kind of are gypsies.. The second, informal definition offered by the dictionary; “a nomadic or free spirited person.” Personally, I don’t know of a better way to describe most of the military brats I know.
When my sister and I were growing up and people would ask us what we wanted to be when we grow up, we would say “anything that lets me live in one place longer than 3 years.” At the time, the idea of staying put, having a home that has your height marked on the wall, and having friends down the street that you’ve grown up with, sounded like paradise. But then you move out and the reality sets in.
My sister felt the syndrome kick in after three years in Los Angeles. My mom felt it big time when 40-some years of nomadism came to an end and she moved into a house where she would live indefinitely. Mine kicked in after four years of college. The symptoms include; restlessness, feelings of entrapment, and the need to spend hours on travel websites.
My sister told me that after living in LA for three years then moving back to Indiana for two years and now getting ready for a move to Tennessee where she and her husband plan to stay for a while; she can’t imagine staying there long enough to put her (future) kids through school. But isn’t this exactly what she wanted years ago when people asked her, “what do you want in the future?” To be quite honest, I do not have the answer on how to become settled in one place. It really is unfathomable. But settling down somewhere doesn’t necessarily mean the adventure ends. It only ends when you let it. Wherever you go, there is always something to go try or explore. It may mean a long drive, or extensive planning, but are we not used to that already?
Don’t be fooled by the connotation of “syndrome,” I think of all the ailments you can be affected by, this is a desirable one. As I’ve said MANY times, think of the stories! We can’t tell fortunes like gypsies claim to, but we can tell some epic stories. We become more understanding of the people and the world around us, and the world begins to shrink.
As always, thank you for reading and please leave your comments!
This story dedicated to my gypsy big sister! Thanks for the story idea Lau.