I moved to Minnesota 20-odd years ago, having always lived near the sea. It took a lot of contemplation before I made the move, exactly for that reason. I think

I moved to Minnesota 20-odd years ago, having always lived near the sea. It took a lot of contemplation before I made the move, exactly for that reason. I think it was such a complete change of environment -- I moved here knowing absolutely no one, and not even where I would live -- that adjusting to the new place, meeting people, starting a new job so completely distracted me that it took a while before it sunk in that I couldn't just be on the beach in 15 minutes. It was disorienting, but far less than I expected it to be. I still miss the sea but it's more of a distant longing now.