In this episode of Drifting Notes, I take you to Süßen, a small town in the Baden-Württemberg countryside, where I found myself with an hour to spare and nowhere in particular to be.
Wandering into the village's Kulturzentrum—a timbered former home now serving as library, council hall, and quiet refuge—I slipped into a grey armchair and settled among strangers. Around me, a man read the newspaper, a woman studied cookbooks, and another browsed the recommended reading shelf. A coffee machine hissed in the corner. A plant leaned toward the light.
And I realised: this little room—gently worn and unapologetically analog—was one of the most human spaces I’d been in for weeks.
This episode is about the unexpected gift of places that don’t demand your attention, but hold it anyway. Spaces that make you feel welcome without asking your name. And the quiet relief of remembering that not everything has to be fast, loud, or connected to Wi-Fi.
If you’ve ever felt at home in a library, a waiting room, or an unfamiliar town square, this one’s for you.
Do you remember a library or quiet corner that made you feel, unexpectedly, at home?
Share this post