Tag Archives: adventure

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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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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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 →