A month ago, I spent a week outside of Berlin, somewhere else in Germany. It was a domestic vacation, and while my vacation was a combination of exploring several cities for sight-seeing as well as hiking a particular area, I based myself in a city nearby. Hence, as I spent a week in this city, I learned how it ticks, so to speak. And somehow, my first impression upon coming back to Berlin is that I like the fact that Berlin is a large city.
See, I have been in Berlin for nine years now. And a reoccuring thought within my head is this idea that perhaps it's time to leave. Perhaps it is time to move on and go somewhere else. After all, that has been my rhythm from the very beginning, ever since I was born. My parents were diplomats and therefore for us it was perfectly normal to go to one city, live there for a few years, and then go somewhere else. Somehow, the emerging idea that Berlin is the end of the line for me does not sit so well.
So that begs the question: where to go next? I had this idea that I would "try out" living in various cities, at least within Germany. Just to see what it is like being there for some time. I still haven't done that, it's not an urgent question to solve in any case. But at least in the trips that I do in the meantime, I get an idea what I actually like as there are aspects that are in any case relevant.
Like for example the observation that Berlin has several massive train stations, not just Hauptbahnhof. Berlin is huge enough to have four Category 1 train stations. As I got off the ICE train in Südkreuz and took the S-Bahn to get home, I realised that I actually like the breadth of urban life here in Berlin. I look back at my week-long trip and realised that where I was is no comparison. I spent a week and I had a great time, but if I live there long-term I might be bored. The city is just a little bit small for my taste.
Okay, so this means I still have arguments for staying in Berlin. I'll continue posing this question from time to time, but for now, compared to the place I visited, Berlin still is for me.
