Will You Travel Forever? (Yet Another Big Announcement)

by Gigi Griffis

A while back, I asked you what questions you had for me. About my lifestyle. About travel. About entrepreneurship. About whatever.

And one of the questions that came up was a pretty common one:

Will you travel forever?

In the past, whenever people asked me this question, I’d shrug.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned since I took off around the world, it’s how to live in the moment. To enjoy what I’m doing right now. To plan for the future in large practical ways (saving money, taking care of my health), but leave life open for beautiful surprises and spontaneous change in the short-term.

And so I’ve always answered with a shrug.

That is, until now.

When my train first pulled into the Lauterbrunnen Valley this year, it felt like coming home.

When it came time to end my vacation and pick my next destination, I couldn’t bring myself to leave. So one month turned into five weeks.

And then five weeks turned into just under two months.

And even now, a week away from leaving for Paris, a city that I love, I am thinking about my return to this charming little town in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

This has never happened before. In the past, I’ve always been excited to leave, even if I loved whatever city I was leaving. I was always ready for the next adventure. Always ready to keep moving, keep traveling.

But now things feel different.

And so this October I did something a little scary.

I started the process of applying for a long-stay visa in Switzerland.

If I get it, it means that I can stay here for a year to write my books, both of which will feature Switzerland in one way or another.

One year.

One year in Switzerland. One year of coming home to the Alps.

Does this mean I’ll stop traveling? No way. But it does mean that I’ll have somewhere to come home to, a community, a base of operations. It also means I won’t have to lug my winter coat on summertime adventures. So that’s a win.

And so here I am waiting. Waiting to hear back from the canton Immigration Office, who will decide my fate.

I have the money to stay, the health insurance required, and what I think is a pretty compelling reason (to write those books and promote Switzerland). But it’s all up to the canton office now.

So, I wait. And hope. And send passionate pleas out into the universe.

If all goes well, friends, I’ll be back here before you know it.

Cross your fingers and say your prayers.

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34 comments

Elizabeth October 21, 2013 - 5:01 am

I too fell in love with this region of Switzerland, but alas I couldn’t find a way to stay there long term. Now I get my dose of Switzerland via France….so wonderfully close that crossing the border is an annual event, albeit for only a few days at a time. Warm regards

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:27 am

France is also lovely. In fact, I’m considering my proximity to Paris one of the perks of possibly living in Switzerland.

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Roommate #1 October 21, 2013 - 7:51 am

Fingers crossed and prayers said!
Still love that picture. :)

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:14 am

It’s been one of my favorites for a while. I need to start getting some silhouettes of myself. I keep using other people.

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Kira October 21, 2013 - 9:40 am

My home is in the mountains too…I know that feeling. Fingers crossed for you!

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:15 am

Thank you!

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Loulou in France October 21, 2013 - 10:02 am

Fantastic! Fingers crossed for you.

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:15 am

Thanks!

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Rob October 21, 2013 - 10:23 am

Moving to Switzerland (especially that incredibly beautiful region) is just throwing out bait and seeing who comes to visit :)

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:25 am

I’m confident that I’ll never be lonely, for sure.

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Elisa October 21, 2013 - 10:26 am

Gigi, that is SO exciting! I bet Luna is pumped!

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:28 am

Thanks! I think she’ll be stoked when it comes through.

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Larissa October 21, 2013 - 10:43 am

Best of luck! Fingers are crossed and good vibes being sent your way!

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:56 pm

Thank you!

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Melissa Adams October 21, 2013 - 10:45 am

That’s what happened to me when I found Amsterdam. Different cities sing to different peeps!

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:57 pm

Yeah. It’s so funny because you asked about the concept of home only a couple months ago, right?

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lee October 21, 2013 - 1:00 pm

I MUST look for this town on a map, if you found a home away from home it is worth a look and you can visit Italy any time you want!

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:57 pm

:)

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Rhonda October 21, 2013 - 1:27 pm

Good luck! If the universe is pulling you to Switzerland, you need to listen :)

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:57 pm

Agreed!

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Rebecca October 21, 2013 - 1:57 pm

I really hope that you can stay in Switzerland so much better than England where they totally treated you rotten. Good luck and keep us posted.

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:57 pm

Thanks!

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Renee - RambleCrunch October 21, 2013 - 4:32 pm

That is such a beautiful spot. We camped in Lauterbrunnen for a week and loved it. The campground there is terrific…it has a heated dog shower!

Fingers crossed for you on the visa. :-)

Renee

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gigigriffis October 21, 2013 - 10:59 pm

Thanks! Yeah – I loved Camping Jungfrau when we were there early in September, though I didn’t realize the dog shower was heated! (Luna is so tiny she just showers with me because if she’s gross chances are I am too.)

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caroline November 5, 2013 - 4:08 pm

Hi Gigi,

I just discover your blog via twitter :) (https://twitter.com/MySwitzerland_e/status/397843889341480960)

I’m french (from Paris) and arrived there (in Geneva) there is almost 2 years ago :)
So I cross all my fingers for you !

So if you get your visa (hope soon), and decide to visit Geneva, it will be a pleasure for me !

Good Luck !

caroline

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gigigriffis November 6, 2013 - 1:59 am

Thank you!

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Katja and Africa November 6, 2013 - 3:29 pm

That is wonderful to hear! Switzerland is one of those paces which I desperately want to visit with my dog Afri! I know exactly what you mean by that feeling “returning home” :) I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you!

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gigigriffis November 6, 2013 - 3:42 pm

Thanks!

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MelD November 25, 2013 - 4:16 pm

Good luck with the cantonal authorities :)
My mom came to Switzerland for the first time when she was 15 in 1956 and was in Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald. 30 years later in 1986 and after living in other Swiss places since 1973, she moved to another alpine region near Appenzell, where she stayed for many years… just to show dreams can come true, even if you sometimes need some patience!!
(of course, that is how I came to be here, so many years on!!)

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gigigriffis November 25, 2013 - 4:24 pm

Thanks!

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