I'm more settled than a classic "nomad" at this point but the mindset lingers — I keep half-holding back from investing in local friendships because some part of me still feels temporary, even though I'm not really moving on any time soon. Anyone else caught in this in-between feeling?
Does telling people directly you're not "just passing through" actually change how they treat you, or does it not matter much either way?
Priya — in my experience it did matter, people invest differently once they know you'll actually be around for their next event too.
commenting to find this later
The half-holding-back thing is so accurately put, exactly my experience.
Joined a recurring sports league specifically, the fixed schedule forced the regular contact that casual meetups never quite managed for me.
following, currently stuck in exactly this in-between headspace
Not a nomad but a longer-settled expat — happy to say this feeling does eventually fade for most people I know, even if it doesn't feel that way right now.
OP here again — genuinely didn't expect this many people to relate this specifically, oddly comforting.