Ryan Frederick’s, Smart Living 360, recently released his book Right Place Right Time. He presents an interesting concept called “Somewhere and Anywhere People” to help determine what is the best place for us to live and thrive. Third Half Advisors recently hosted Ryan in their Lift Series to explore the concept of place in your Third Half. There was so much interest in this topic that Ryan and I will be presenting a workshop in the end of April to explore the topic of “Are you a somewhere or an anywhere person?”
Ryan’s research has shown that to thrive in our “Place” we need purpose, social connection, physical well being and financial well being. Each chapter in the book explores different types of places we can live. Guiding questions help the reader to discover their longings for a sense of place and the concept of somewhere and anywhere person.
Ryan writes “Home is a physical composite of our country, region, metropolitan area, neighborhood, streets, and physical dwelling, but it is much more. It has economic, psychological, and social dimensions – and it is also a feeling. We are at our best when we have an attachment to our place. Living somewhere but never having a sense of home can be reason enough to move. Home is where the heart is.” During the pandemic many people decided to assess their home and consider a new place to live.
Did they ask themselves am I a somewhere or an anywhere person?
If you are a somewhere person you have roots, attachments to a place. It is your identity, community, it is where you feel your greatest purpose and thrive. If you are an anywhere person, you can relocate and find a sense of place, build a community, discover purpose and thrive. In this age of high mobility there are many people relocating; 27.1 million Americans relocated in 2021.
Are they anywhere people? or somewhere people?
Ryan writes…”One of the benefits of longevity, particularly those with financial means, is to think about life in terms of chapters with each chapter offering the opportunity to change places. This can be alluring and exciting. However, it also can be deceptive. If you are a somewhere person – someone who has a strong tie to a particular place – a move away from your home can be precisely the wrong thing to do, no matter how enticing improved weather and a lower of cost of living, for example, can be.”
I believe asking yourself am I a somewhere or anywhere person is the best place to start this exploration of place. A sense of place is very personal and it also is the foundation for which you build your life and your sense of belonging. There is no right or wrong on this exploration of place. It’s yours to determine but it does help to reflect on your values, your sense of purpose, your need for social connection and your strengths.
I’ve been thinking about this for myself and a recent experience helped crystallize a few ideas. Last month I had some client work in the desert. After the workshop I headed directly to the ocean. It was as if my very soul needed to be by the sea. I am a water person. I could not get to the water fast enough.
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My sense of place is linked to being able to see, walk by, engage with the edge, the edge of land and water. Big lakes and oceans are what creates my grounding. Point Lobos State Reserve in Carmel is one of those edge places where water and land meet.
My somewhere place is Lake Superior and Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. My anywhere place is the northern California coast. If my feet are near the water, my boat ready to launch and a sense of community near by, I can thrive. Life has made me an anywhere person even though I’m a somewhere person that needs water. I wondered after my trip to the desert and bee line to the sea if maybe I’m an anywhere person that also happens to be a selkie!
If you are in the conversations about place, I encourage you to read Ryan’s book and reach out for a coaching session on getting clear on sense of place and whether you are a somewhere or anywhere person.
