Three Flights Up to a Quiet Home in Morocco

Three flights of stairs is work, especially with shopping bags.

By Neil Solomon · 2 min read

Picture a couple named Grace and Tom. They love the energy of Moroccan streets by day: voices, carts, the call of vendors. But by evening they wanted something different. They found a flat three flights up, and when they closed the door, the noise below turned into a soft hum.

That detail comes from one account I read, of a quiet home found high above the street. I do not know the building or the city, and I will not guess. What I took from it was the feeling of calm, and how little it needed: some stairs and a little height.

Calm is something you choose

When people think about moving abroad, they often picture the view, the market and the café. They picture the lively parts. They talk less about the room where they will sleep. Yet that room is where much of a retirement is lived.

A busy street is wonderful to visit. It is another matter at six in the morning. Some retirees seek out lively places and do not mind the noise. Others find it wears on them, and they look for a home that sits back from the sound.

What stands out to me in this story is the trade. Three flights of stairs is work, especially with shopping bags. In return, there is calm. Whether that is a good bargain depends on your knees, your sleep and your taste.

On the landing

"Are you sure about the stairs?" asked Tom, a little out of breath.

"Listen," said Grace, opening the door.

He listened. The street was still there, but far away.

"All right," he said. "I will carry the bread."

A way to think about it

Quiet is not the same for everyone. For one person, it means no cars. For another, it means no neighbours. For another, it means just enough sound to feel company. It can help to ask what you want to hear at night.

You may also find that a place with a lively centre has a quiet corner not far away. Many people discover that calm and life can sit a few streets apart, or a few floors apart.