Being relocated from the home I once knew presented the question, "What is home?" Is it defined by the past? Or can it be found through the people you meet? In questioning the true essence of the meaning of home, one will know they found it through feeling safe, seen, and supported. For me, Victor Berry and Nate Goldwire, residents living on Atlantic Avenue, became the epitome of home. 

Victor Berry's home exudes an energy that feels like a warm hug. Stepping through the door, you are blanketed in an unexplainable sense of familiarity and nostalgia. The house holds the memories and stories of his childhood within its walls. As the undeniable feeling of family and love fills every space. Entering a place that holds so much weight, it is undeniable that his home is where he is most vulnerable. Vulnerability became an avenue for a shared experience that led to endless conversations and a deep understanding of each other's lives. Despite having vastly different lives, his home became more than a safe space, as it is a testament to how the power of home can invoke vulnerability in people scared by the world's judgments.

As Berry’s home has become my haven, there is one person whose way of life has made me feel seen. Nate Goldwire is an observer and a collector. He is someone who gives items and people a new purpose in life. Goldwire brings joy and awareness to the less important things we tend to feel. Collecting abandoned objects and restoring them into a gallery, Goldwire sees light and himself in the objects he collects. The significance of these items and his unconditional love for them is an undeniable connection to my grandfather. The delight of finding a new purpose at an older age pushes one to keep going and share this with others. As time passes, the things that we once found profound seem to lose their sparkle, and Nate is a constant reminder of living for yourself and doing the things you cherish most.

Home is something that will continue to evolve. The need to find it wherever you find yourself will always remain. It isn't about looking into the future of what it could be but appreciating where you are right now. Atlantic Avenue’s residents, Victor Berry and Nate Goldwire allowed me to experience how not to feel lonely when we are lost and how to open our eyes to see home is all around us. It is people and love that make a home.