Category Archives: travel

Well, the weather outside is weather

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The international portion of my trip has been delayed. I was supposed to leave from JFK this morning at 8:30am but instead I am relishing in the few extra days I get to spend with family and friends. I was able to switch the flight (at not cost) to leave on Thursday instead. It also allowed for me to save a vacation day by working on the day I was set to be traveling! And I enjoyed chatting with the customer service representative from British Airways as she updated my flight ‘shed-yule’.

Always look for the silver lining, right?

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Game on

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My epic preparation to do list is complete! All of my ducks are in a row for my departure on January 27th and I’m ready to begin to the travel planning for Europe. Any and all recommendations or words of advice are welcome!

Travel tip for fellow work-cationers (those with mobile offices that are traveling): I also switched from Verizon to TMobile because they offer free data and texting while traveling internationally. Calling is free when connected to Wifi or $0.20 / minute otherwise. I am thrilled to have discovered this in my research as it will be great to keep my current phone number for work accessibility to my clients and co-workers.

It seems as if the stars just keep aligning on this journey! There are two weeks left before departure and I can breathe a bit knowing that I am as ready as I’ll ever be.

Motor City

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I’m grateful that time seemed to pass at exactly the right speed this week. I flew into Detroit last Sunday to ring in the New Year with my sweetheart. I had my first ‘meet the family’ experience and spent time with Jon’s friends, all of which are amazing people. It was nice to see where he comes from – what has shaped the man he is. It was a bittersweet week, we made the most of every moment but there was this part of me that couldn’t stop worrying about the inevitable separation. I know that this is the right decision for me and that if it’s it is meant to be (and I hope it is), it will be. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt like hell! Especially for a Type A planner like myself – I don’t fair well when I don’t know all the answers. Regardless of the emotions and thoughts flying through my brain, we really did have a lot of fun this week and as hard as it was to say goodbye, I am hopeful.

Top 5 favorite moments in Detroit:
-The cabin we were in for New Years, getting to know some great people and sharing in so much laughter
-Meeting Jon’s grandmother who radiates love and genuine goodness
-Celebrating our 1 year anniversary at an amazing steakhouse where we became the favorite table of the owner and got the royal treatment
-Getting a driving tour of Detroit and a real feel for the city, the beauty and sadness in it’s vacancy
-The total dive bar that we went to for karaoke and the shenanigans that ensued from there

AIRPORTS: 5
FLIGHTS: 4
STATES: 4
COUNTRIES: 1
DAYS TRAVELING: 28

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Sunshine State of Mind

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A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

-George A. Moore

There isn’t anything like being in the presence of my grandparents. I am looking forward to the next few months of adventure, but I already know that nothing will be better than just being with Mama and Pa.

Two weeks has passed too quickly. It’s incredible how quickly you can become accustomed to a person, place or feeling again, as if you’d never left, but how long it takes to recover in the absence that is inevitable. I feel my best with them, as if anything I am and do… is more than enough. I am my best self…. my funniest self, my smartest self, my kindest self… with them. Everything is clearer, the world makes sense. The wisdom, honesty and love that flows in their company… There is a sense of invincibility, as if I can face anything as long as they are with me.

I tried to relish in every moment of it, tried to store up some of that energy to carry with me in my travels. And really, in the rest of my life. I want more than anything to be the person in the world that I am with them.

Top 5 moments in Florida:
-The first Christmas morning with my grandparents in over 15 years.
-Seeing an old friend truly happy and the best version of herself.
-The photos. Of my childhood. Of my mom’s. Of theirs. Of my great grandparents. Of everyone I’ve known and loved… The memories both saved and lost.
-My grandmother’s laugh (if you’ve heard it, you know why).
-My grandfather’s view on the world. I love the way he listens and waits to formulate an opinion, I value it more than anything when he is ready to share it.

AIRPORTS: 4
FLIGHTS: 2
STATES: 3
COUNTRIES: 1
DAYS TRAVELING: 21

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Merry in Maryland

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The first week of traveling has flown by. I got to spend a week in absolute baby bliss with one of my oldest and dearest high schools friends in the beautiful life she has created. I couldn’t have imagined a better way to start this journey. A large part of the decision to travel was knowing that this would be one of my last opportunities to do it – foreseeing the creation of my own family in the next few years. Being 28, there’s a sense of youth but also of awareness of the speed at which time passes. I want to savor every moment of this time and freedom, taking full advantage of it so that I have no regrets once I am ready to settle down. Spending this time with Kaley was precious in more ways than I can even comprehend at this moment.

Top 5 favorite moments from Maryland:
1. Kaley and I spotting a shooting star on the drive home from the airport when I arrived (a wonderful sign that I was right where I was meant to be!)
2. My two year old niece, Evelyn, hugging me as tight as her little arms could hold me and whispering, “I love you, Auntie Jackie”
3. Running errands with Kaley mid-trip – just us and the random, profound conversation that happens in the most mundane of activities
4. After a stressful work day, going into the bedroom to pick up my six month old niece, Lily, and seeing her beaming a smile up at me from the crib
5. The surprising calm from my nieces in the back seat and the hum of bluegrass from the radio on the super early drive to the airport as we watched the sunrise over Washington DC

AIRPORTS: 3
FLIGHTS: 1
STATES: 2
COUNTRIES: 1
DAYS TRAVELING: 7

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Life contained in 6x8x8 space.

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Welp, my life in San Francisco is neatly packed away into a 6x8x8 storage unit. I have no idea what life stage I’ll be in the next time I see this stuff… where I’ll be moving it to or who I’ll be moving it with… It’s both terrifying and electrifying.

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Time Capsules

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I am packing up my life here in San Francisco, leaving it in a storage facility, unsure of when I’ll see it again. For all intents and purposes, I’m leaving a time capsule. It got me to thinking about the other unintentional time capsules I have created – one in the basement of my Uncle’s apartment building in 2003 when my mom and I moved in with her boyfriend and the other in my best friend’s mother’s basement in 2012 when I decided to move to San Francisco. When I go back to Connecticut in January, I’ll actually have to sort through both. I’m so curious to know what I thought was so important to save and store since I literally have no idea what could be in those boxes. This is also making me question my packing choices at the moment.

Should I leave a note in their for my future self? 🙂

I am leaving my heart in San Francisco

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Being the over-achieving OCD Virgo that I am, I naturally crossed off about 70% of my moving and traveling to do list within one week of being back from my SoCal trip. I have packed as much as I can possibly pack that’s not in use (mind you, we don’t move until the end of the month). I sat in my living room on Thursday night, surrounded by boxes and totes, and thought… a lot. I’ve been so excited about going traveling that I hadn’t realized that it meant leaving my life as it is now – a life that is full of love, fun and amazing people. I have been so wrapped up in the romance of my travels that I failed to realize that I was giving up the first apartment I have felt at home in, missing out on a life in San Francisco that I cherish each day and risking change (for better or worse) in my relationships as they are now. People have been saying how ‘brave’ I am for making this decision, but I have realized – it is not the going that is courageous, it is the leaving. It’s easier to make bold decisions when you are unhappy, like I did when I decided to leave Providence for San Francisco… but when you are happy with your life? Oh man… to leave it behind, even if it is to chase my dreams of traveling… Well, I am just beginning to realize how hard that really is. I suppose I should consider how blessed I am to have people who make saying ‘goodbye’ (or even ‘see you later’) so difficult. And while intellectually I know that if it is meant to be, I will find a way to reclaim my life in San Francisco, my heart can’t help but feel a bit torn (cue Tony Bennett’s I left my Heart in San Francisco). San Francisco, I leave you my heart… but I’m taking my curious nature, thirst for adventure and generous spirit with me.

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SoCal Roadtripping with my Bitty

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On Sunday, October 19th, my SmartCar (Bitty) and I departed on a 2 week SoCal Road trip from San Francisco. It’s been over a year since I’ve traveled for any longer than a weekend, so it was great to get back into the mentality of couch crashing and living out of a suitcase. It was a complete mind, body and spiritual rest and rejuvenation. A heartfelt thanks to all those who hosted me or came to spend time with me as I hopped around SoCal. It was incredibly special and outrageously fun. Each interaction meant more to me than you can possibly know – I am very grateful for each of you in my life. After 1279 miles, I’m back in San Francisco and ready to tackle the next few weeks of preparation before I embark on this amazing journey.

Some highlights from my road trip:

-Picking up my first ride share and having a great time chatting with him on the way down the coast

-Cuddles and laughs with the Storts family (human and furry) in the avocado orchard

-Late night talks with Rochelle

-Line dancing in San Diego

-Karaoke in San Diego

-The gluttony of food in San Diego, every delicious bite…

-Learning the ‘Thriller’ dance with Taylor

-Completing my 3rd Tough Mudder with folks I had just met days before and a sprained toe in Temecula

-‘Couples‘ massage with Taylor after said Tough Mudder

-Did I mention the food? Because THE FOOD! San Diego, I love you.

-‘The best margarita in San Diego‘

-Beach bonfire in LA to celebrate a co-worker’s birthday (who I also got to meet for the first time!)

-Laying pool side in Palm Springs with one of my oldest friends

-Finding the only dive bar to ever rival El Rio’s Karaoke in LA, The Brass Monkey with my CT loves

-Walking a mile in a torrential downpour while wearing a full length dress and afro wig

-Walking Venice Beach

-Spotting Zebras on the drive up the Pacific Coast Highway

-The breath-taking views along the PCH, I will never tire of them

-Listening to Jon sing to ‘All About That Bass‘ on the drive home – also the moment when ‘our song’ came on the radio as we began the trip

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Preparing for 6 months of travel: the ever-growing to do list

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I’m freakishly organized. As in, I actually enjoy making lists and creating organizational systems. Since the day I bought my tickets, I have been updating a list of all the things I need to do in temporarily wrapping up my life in San Francisco before embarking on this crazy journey. The list just keeps on growing… any volunteers to be my personal assistant for the next month?

-cancel gym membership
-email landlord with 30 days notice
-figure out what to do with my car
-have oil changed and scheduled maintenance done on car
-figure out where to forward my mail
-change mailing address in all accounts and make request to forward with USPS
-check up with doctor
-teeth cleaning
-see if health insurance covers my internationally
-cancel cell phone
-cancel Comcast & utilities
-purchase travel case for computer
-contact credit cards to alert them of travel
-purchase wall adapter for chargers
-find storage unit
-change renter’s insurance to cover storage unit instead of apartment
-schedule movers
-sell furniture and items I will not be packing
-research international calling plans
-review time zones and figure out work schedule
-plan awesomest going away party ever

Sometimes, you just have to say “fuck it”

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When you’ve dreamt of something for as long as you can remember and you’re teetering on the edge of big life decisions… sometimes the best solution is to slug back a few glasses of wine and say “fuck it”. That’s what I did last Tuesday evening when I charged airplane tickets to my credit card for 2 months of visiting family and friends along the east coast, 3 weeks in Australia and 3 months in Europe!

As said best in Billy Joel’s ‘Vienna’ (a longtime inspiration of mine) – “You can get what you want, or you can just get old.”  I’ve learned that time is the most precious resource I have – both abundant and limited in the same regard – I’m thrilled to be taking full advantage of mine. And while it’s one of the crazier moves I’ve ever made, it feels right like the right time to take the right risk.

And hey – some of the best decisions I’ve made have been while intoxicated, so let’s hope this one follows suits (I mean, that one way ticket to San Francisco turned out to be the greatest choice ever, right??). Drunken courage surely takes action for the sober heart! 

I’ll spend the next two months packing up a storage unit (sadly giving up a great apartment), figuring out what to do with my car and sorting out the hundreds of little details to leave my life in San Francisco not knowing where I’ll be when I return in June. I’m lucky and grateful to have a remote job so I will be able to continue working during this time and will also be tapping into my abundant bank of vacation hours (cheers to being a workaholic and having that shit saved up).

I’m also beyond grateful that I will be spending long overdue time with family and friends all over the world and very excited for the new connections I will make! I’m already overwhelmed with the love, support and offers that have come in within a week of making this decision – I’ll keep everyone posted throughout this process and of course when the traveling starts. Cheers to adventure and bold decisions!

Flight itinerary:

12/7 San Francisco –> Maryland to visit Kaley and my nieces
12/14 Maryland –> Florida to visit my grandparents and Ashley for Christmas
12/28 Florida –> Detroit to get a New Years kiss from Jon
1/4 Detroit –> Connecticut to visit friend and family for 3 weeks (hoping to make it up to Rhode Island to visit Josh’s restaurant in Newport and reunite with friends in Providence after 4 years of being gone)
1/27 Connecticut –> Australia for 3 weeks of adventure with Nicola!
2/16 Australia –> Germany to begin 3 months of European travels!
5/9 London –> Connecticut for a few weeks before returning to California

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“To change one’s life… 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions.”

“To change one’s life… 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions.”

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This blog was initially created to discuss and plan my traveling journeys. In the beginning stage of this all, I realized that I would need to align my level of physical and mental fitness with my dreams. When I began … Continue reading →

Activating the Law of Attraction

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“The law of attraction is simple – whatever you project energetically or put your energy towards whether that be positive or negative you will attract. What you project is what you receive. A vision board is simply to help set our intentions for the way we want to live, and for our brains to pick up on that and make it happen. The vision board therefore, is to help our brains recognize what it is we want to make true in our lives. It helps us unconsciously move towards our dreams in a very real and powerful way.  The purpose of a vision board is to realize your future, and to activate the law of attraction and move from day dreaming to living your dreams.”

-Mary Crimmins, Fellow Blogger

I created my ‘vision board‘ in the same week that I started this blog. Ironically enough, I did not set out to do so. I thought it would be a good idea to print out maps to get a sense of not only where I would like to go but where I thought my social network could come in handy. I highlighted where I had been and outlined where I would like to go. I started creating pinpoints in places where I had people I could stay with or where I knew friends had traveled and could offer advice. A cork board that my roommate had given me seemed the best place to tack these maps on – and voilà – my vision board was created!

I stare at it several times a day with excitement and a tinge of anxiety. I’m setting forth my intentions into the world and here is where you all (all of the extraordinary people I’ve been blessed with in my life) come in. Send me your stories and advice! Where have you traveled? Where would you like to go? What must I absolutely see or do? Do you have advice on hostels or know of a couch I can crash on? Do you know of any good websites or travel options to help with planning? Anything! I’m seeking to pick the brains and generosity of all of my connections and their connections and their connections…. You get the idea. So comment on my blog or page… send an email or a facebook message… text or call me… send a note via carrier pigeon – whatever you prefer!

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“Don’t think about what you want to be, but do what you want to do.”

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It has only been a week since the launching of my blog, but it certainly feels longer. Thank you to my friends and family for the kind words and overwhelming show of support – 88 followers!

My inspiration this week comes from an old friend, Everett, who shared the quote below on my Facebook wall. It could not be more poignant. It is true that we will never be able to figure it all out… we are barreling through space and time – everything around us is changing – we as humans are changing everyday… physically, emotionally, spiritually… in what we need and what we desire. Trying to analyze what is fleeting is not a good use of time or energy – instead let us truly exist in each moment, appreciate it as it is happening and be ready to roll along with the next one in this constantly shifting world. Let us not be afraid to see the beauty that exists in all of our interactions, let’s pay attention to the stories and lessons that lie within them.

“Don’t think about what you want to be, but do what you want to do.” By following your passion and doing what makes you happy, you will only naturally become the person you’ve always wanted to be.

And the best lesson I learned this week? Inspiration has a unique affect – the more that you are inspired, the more you become an inspiration to others. With all of the negativity, sadness and injustice in this world, it is important to focus in on and share this light as much as possible. SHARE YOUR LIGHT! Be vulnerable – don’t be afraid to share your dreams and your fears. Be willing to talk about them with anyone that you encounter – friends and strangers. Be receptive in allowing other people to share theirs with you. It’s not easy for me to be so open, but this past week has proven to me how imperative it really is. My fire has only been fueled by talking about it all week. Can someone please cue ‘This Little Light of Mine‘? Cause I’m going to let it shine… Let it shineeeeee, let it shine, let it shineeee!

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24 hours of love

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It has only been 24 hours since I launched my blog and Facebook page and I am already in awe. I am grateful every day, every moment for the support of the truly amazing people in my life. I’m beyond excited to see where this all takes me and I cannot thank you all enough for your love, kinds words and encouragement.

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“Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.”

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My uncle gave me a card with this quote on it when I moved to California in May of 2011. Some things you hear and think you understand until the day that it really clicks and the meaning changes entirely. … Continue reading →