Have you ever entered a new place and felt you were home?

I haven’t felt that way till I read your question. That must be amazing.

Fluther is my home.

It sounds delicious. What a lucky find!

It is!

A few summers ago I rented a little cottage in Ft. Bragg CA. right on the harbor. It was adorable I felt the same way. Had a cozy little fireplace and stunning pink lilys that were as tall as the window sills with those great, old fashioned push up windows where the curtains flutter in the breeze. The weather was magnificent and I had all the windows up, with the lilys peeking in and the curtains blowin’ in the wind. I could have stayed there forever.

Everytime I visit a foreign country, I think “yep, this is my new home”.
But that is because I am german.

Oh, @ragingloli , you are in good form today! XXXL GA for you.

I remember that feeling but haven’t experienced it for many years. The closest I ever come to it anymore is when I occasionally visit my home city (a four-hour drive from where I now live) and drive past the house where I grew up in my teen years. I’ve never wanted to go inside—I’m afraid it would no longer jibe with the picture in my mind—but the sight of it, which remains mostly unchanged, instantly floods me with happy memories.

I did feel I was home when I visited England a few years ago… but that’s a story for another time.

In all honesty, no. There are places that I settle into quickly and those that never quite fit the bill no matter how long I stay there. The only place that feels like home is the house that I grew up in.

When I visited Michigan State University as a possibility I felt very quickly that I could live there. It was the only school I applied to (mostly out of laziness, insecurity, some paralysis from fear, and some general depression) and that feeling of it being a great fit for me pushed me through. When I arrived to my dorm on the first day and met my roommates and floormates I instantly felt at home. I never was homesick and I never had a transition of any sort.

When I moved to southeast FL after college it was an instant fit also. The trip down I started to feel a weight off my shoulders and once there (I stayed with a family friend at first) I was happy and at home.

Residence Inn in Sebring, FL makes me happy. Sebring is nothing to write home about, but for some reason that hotel and the staff is great. In general Residence Inn makes me feel that way; it’s one of my first choices for hotels. I feel at home there, except for the rare occasion when the hotel is getting a little worn.

When I was in the Catskills last year I felt at home in a way I didn’t expect. I think it’s the air or something. Like a memory from childhood. When I wasn’t living in FL it used to happen to me as I drove south of Gainesville, or stepped off the plane. The humidity, warmth, and smell, feels like home. Even through the crazy horrific year we had moving back here I still felt an overall joy and calm being in this climate.

Does it have a spare bedroom?

Does it have two spare bedrooms?

A 3rd bedrooms and space for a small goose barn? Hey..fluther commune. lol

A friend’s home. It’s got a delightful atmosphere. It’s just homey. There’s no TV in sight, the furniture is worn, there’s a delightful collection of artwork, and a quaint little garden out back and a huge porch runs along the back of the house. But the best part of it is the lady who lives there. She makes everyone feel at home in her home, regardless of who they are.

I have never had that feeling. If I were you, I would see about getting it. It is a feeling to be treasured.

The condo I currently live in.

Chicago. Unfortunately I can’t really afford to live there. Well, at least not without roommates, which I’m not really willing to do.

This happened to me at one apartment I looked at. It was in a nice area, and the bedroom although small was good enough for me. It had its own entrance, which was nice, and I met the other people living there who all seemed like great people. But the best part was the kitchen. It was huge and looked like it was from the 20s with black and white tiles everywhere, including the walls. There were tons of shelves and cabinets and a nice gas stove. The whole place was clean and it had a nice living room area as well. It was just a bit above my budget, though.

It depends on if I’m alone or not. I’d feel more comfortable alone.

Yes, in Puerto Rico. Rented a place on vacation. The house was located up in the mountains. Panoramic view of the mountains and ocean and exotic plants and trees. Beautiful view of the private pool and Jacuzzi . Large kitchen. two balconies on either side and when you opened both patio doors there was always a warm soft breeze. A large table outside with comfy chairs. I would sit their in the morning and evenings, drinking coffee first thing in the morning as I looked at the ocean, and in the evening we would chill while we dried out from the swim at the pool. Or if we had a especially hectic day, we would sit in the Jacuzzi with our drinks. .We would also get a nice sent from the orchids that they were growing on the side of the palm trees. We’ve been there twice and both times we didn’t want to leave.

Many years ago a cousin of my wife moved back to the old family homestead and rather than reside with her parents chose to live in a small shack that had, back in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s, housed families of farm workers (it had, and was called, another name that is not exactly PC these days) Very small, very tight, very cozy and one of the few places that I have ever walked into, sat down on the old overstuffed sofa and felt like I belonged. I was very disappointed when she built a new home for herself on the property.

Whenever I stay in someone’s home or anyplace for that matter, I try to envision what it would be like to live there and I think about what features I like (not just building features, but furniture, colors, etc.).

There’s a Wyndham resort in the Berkshires that a friend lets me stay at often, because she has a lot of points (it’s a time share). Even though I wouldn’t necessarily want to live in a building, I like the units. They are nicely laid out and have high ceilings, large bathrooms and an open kitchen/dining area. I could see myself staying in one long term.

The cave near my old house. It held all of my secrets and I miss it so…

That is how I felt the first time I set foot on the Stanford campus.

When I went to some friends’ house for the very first time, it smelt exactly like a house I had recently moved from and missed, it was all the interior timber on the walls and floor, it felt immediately so familiar and home-like.