An addenda to my last post - I know exactly what she means by “never fitting in”. What common culture America had was largely destroyed in the 1960s by the leftists - and its even got worse since then.
As an immigrant from a place that DOES have a culture I have been aware of that feeling my entire life. Again, I am guessing that she feels that she ‘belongs’ in Bali precisely because it is a place that DOES have a common culture, which at this point in life she identifies with. The fact that its so different from the chaos she’s lived through is kind of the point. THAT is the very reason she probably likes it.
Personally, Texas is the only place I’ve ever lived in the US that felt something akin to ‘home’ (where I lived 8 years courtesy of Uncle Sam). Not so in the East, nor the Midwest, nor California where I am currently stuck due to a successful business that is sadly non-tranferrable geographically.
Having said that the Mrs and I spend up to 2 months in the old country every Summer and plan on living there half the year when we can (finally) retire for real... not as warm as Bali, but hey, the Adriatic Islands of Croatia are pretty paradisey half the year ... and tolerable in the winter ... ;>)
I've spent my entire life here in Michigan and if there's one thing that keeps me here is the ever changing seasons and the fact that I can't afford to move where I would like to.
With that being said, I spent my growing up years in northern Michigan where everything was available to me. Summer water sports on the lake, little league baseball, changing of the colors and hunting in the fall, skiing in the winter the opening of trout fishing in the spring.
The only place that ever came close to being home was when I was stationed in Panama while in the Army from 69 - 72. Hot weather year around, beaches, a motor cycle for transportation.........It was paradise at that time in my life.
Then life got in the way.......LOL!