What to leave a friend who’s moving away
They’re packing boxes. You’re pretending you’re fine. Here’s something better than another goodbye party.
Field guide2 min read
When a friend moves to another city, or another country, the goodbye party is nice. But the thing they’ll remember is the one they find later.
Leave something where you always went
The café. The court. The kibanda that does the best smokie pasua. Leave a voice note there, just for them, set to open the next time they’re back. They’ll carry it around for months without being able to open it, and that is half the fun.
Make it a Trail
Before they leave, send them on one last walk: every place that mattered, in order, each one opening the next. End it wherever the goodbye party is. Yes, they will cry. Yes, you will say you didn’t.
Things worth leaving
- The worst photo of them you own. Tradition.
- A voice note from everyone in the group, recorded separately, played together.
- Directions to your new favourite place, for when they visit.
- A list of everything they still owe you. Ceremonially forgiven.
Make coming home a thing
Put something at the airport arrivals exit, set for the day they land. Put the next one at the first place they’ll want to eat. By the third stop they’ll realise you planned their whole first day back, and pretend to be annoyed.
And when they come back for Christmas, everything is still there, waiting at the places you both know.
Made you want to go somewhere?
