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the lord of the rings - Where does Gandalf Live?


Does Gandalf have his own home or does he just live where he goes?


Is there a place that he prefers to live and calls home most of all?



Answer



The Istari essay in Unfinished Tales answers this:




But the last-comer was named among the Elves Mithrandir, the Grey Pilgrim, for he dwelt in no place, and gathered to himself neither wealth nor followers, but ever went to and fro in the Westlands from Gondor to Angmar, and from Lindon to Lórien, befriending all folk in times of need.



Also the headnote to the Tale of Years for the Third Age in RotK:



Mithrandir was closest in friendship with the Eldar, and wandered mostly in the West, and never made for himself any lasting abode.



In so much as Gandalf could be said to have a home, it is the Gardens of Lórien in Aman, where he lived as Olórin; see the Valaquenta:



Wisest of the Maiar was Olórin. He too dwelt in Lórien, but his ways took him often to the house of Nienna, and of her he learned pity and patience.




Even then he did journey about somewhat, as the quote given above shows, and also further from Unfinished Tales:



Then Manwë asked, where was Olórin? And Olórin, who was clad in grey, and having just entered from a journey had seated himself at the edge of the council...



Lórien in Aman, which should not be confused with Lórien in Middle-earth, is presumably where Gandalf eventually returns to at the end of Lord of the Rings.


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