The ambiance was the one of Bangkok. With pictures on the walls like a mosaic and a tea pot always warm. I came to explore Asian culture, Buddhism, Japanese aesthetics for number of reasons. So many people, so many years as a civilization. The ways of ancient has gotten this wisdom! Regarding interest in crafting interior, it had to be as peaceful as a mountain retreat. Five millennium have been bloody for them, I thought Asian culture would hold the answer to my anxiety. To this day, their people stayed resilient. The elderly passed on respect and the path to zenitude. The youngsters learned English. After moving around like a gypsy for twenty-five years. I decided to settle in the largest flat we could afford, with secondhand furniture. Our apartment is crafted according to Shanghai alley style. With each room placed along a long corridor. Culture had gotten to me in the smell of food which typically included Miso, U-Don, dumplings, sushi, croquettes, steak. I am a regular folk from the West. Nothing special except my inspiration comes from the Far East. My reading includes Zen philosophy and Feng Shui, my home breathes an eternal incense odor. We rather have Jasmin tea and make a big fuss serving it. Japanese design retained my attention since college, when studying to be an artist.  

My entire family had left town. My mom bought an apartment in what reassembles a Paris suburb complex. My dad rents a large, high end, expensive flat in a new construction with view on the autoroute. My stepdad moved into a small modern house, on the north shore. My brother purchases his first home at forty years old, deep into the suburbia cliché. But my half and me, we stayed. We choose the city center, partly because we are refusing to get a car, for different ethical reasons. Mainly, we like the urban feeling. It tends to remind me of any other exotic places. I can pray to be in Europe, America or Asia, to be downtown could be anywhere. Certainly, the world looks smaller from this point of view. There is a small piece of space in this world, which I know is at peace. Within the noisy city, we created a retreat made of heaven. My main occupation has been to keep it safe and sound. 

My memories are sharp and limpid. My conscience is closer to a vivid dream than reality. Sometimes, a white curtain of frost seems to float in the room. Most days, I avoid going out of my home. It is my whole universe held between those walls. The ambiance is the one of souvenirs, recollection of events, good and bad luck, it is a tribute to my past experiences. Therefore, I would consider the flat my own private paradise.  

What we created here, this bubble, helped me get over a lot.

As much for the others, a lot of what is happening remains in the realm of the unnoticed. The wife job being closer to undercover agent, than the maid we ear mentioned so often. So here I am, forty something, and we find this small, ruin-down, downtown place. He said it would be temporary. But I cared for the space, and we are still here. Enduring the fact, it was not a nice apartment was out of the question. Taking on me to remodel, I repainted, changing some doorknobs, choosing window covering. We made it our own. The last thing we think about now, would be to give up our nest.  It had been carved with my sweat. Has become a feel of Punkish, Provence and Zenitude. This part of downtown is cold and feels sad, at first glance. Here, we created for ourselves a comfy bubble. We made us home, very much outside of any timeframe. We are not middle class, but rather we feel at home with little means. Not struggling either, we choose a very placid life. My joy comes from solid simple pleasures. I paid much attention to the daily life of my household, as if it is worth millions. When getting into the preparation of a homemade mayonnaise, dividing yolk from the egg white, choosing from a variety of flavored vinegar we have, adding dry mustard or garlic… I can really tell the truth from the lies, during a very quiet dedicated chore. For a moment, concentrating in making the kitchen tidier. I feel rewarded in such a way, just by grabbing a sponge to work on the cupboard’s doors cleanliness. Taking on me, to make a fresh Humus or Tzatziki from scratch. I am so proud to do good things for my family.