Just over one year ago, I took a trip that changed my life. I traveled to Europe and Australia over the course of six weeks. Before this trip, I had barely set foot outside my own country. I saw sights I’d only dreamed of, I met lifelong friends, I fell in love, and I returned with a completely new perspective on how I’d like to live my life.
But, as timing would have it, I had to cut this travel period short to return to the USA for a job offer that I couldn’t pass up. It was the responsible thing to do…return to a job with a steady paycheck at a company with a bright future. However, when I returned, nothing was quite the same back home. That’s the funny thing about traveling. You never return as the same person you were when you left.
Being chained back to a desk and earning a bi-monthly paycheck was no longer enough for me. Every day was more boring than the next, I grew to hate the mundane routine of my daily tasks at work, and I knew I had to make a change.
Eight months ago, I finally made the choice to change my life. I called my parents and asked if I could move my belongings to their house in Phoenix, Arizona, at the end of the year. They asked why, and I took a deep breath, and told them I wanted to travel abroad – solo – for a year.
I waited for them to run through a list of reasons why this wasn’t a good idea: “You’re going ALONE?” “It’s dangerous.” “What about your job?” “What about your CAREER?”
Those questions never came.
“We’re not surprised,” they said, when I asked what they thought of my plans. “You’ve talked about traveling non-stop since your Europe trip. If you don’t do this now, before you settle down, you’ll regret it.”
And that was that. With the support of my parents, and a few best friends that I felt comfortable talking to about my plans, I started January 2015 with a fresh perspective. Everything I’ve done for the last 8 months has been for this trip. Saving every penny for my travel fund, preparing a freelance portfolio to make some money while I’m traveling, launching this blog, working through my “California Bucket List,” etc. etc.
The original plan was to leave my job in December, and leave on my trip in January. However, sometimes life throws you curveballs, and you realize where you’re really supposed to be. My timeline changed, and I’m now moving to Phoenix – next week!
I’ll move my belongings there on August 12, and spend the next four months traveling across the USA. Massive roadtrips from Phoenix to Montana, and then New Orleans to Massachusetts (by way of DC and NYC!) are on my list, plus a million other small weekend trips. I’m so excited to spend some time exploring my own country!
Then, on January 5, 2016, I’ll jet off to Costa Rica to begin my round-the-world tour! Tentative itinerary (anything can change!) is below.
January 2016:
Costa Rica
Peru
February 2016:
Brazil
Argentina
Australia
March 2016:
Australia [con’t]
New Zealand
April 2016:
Bali
Thailand
China
Japan
May 2016:
Back home for my best friend’s wedding and a little rest period!
June 2016 – December 2016:
Europe
There are so many big changes coming for me, and I feel so blessed to be in a position to go explore this beautiful world. Although I’m sad to leave the San Francisco Bay Area behind, my home for 26 years, the world is calling. I’m off to see what it has in store for me. 🙂
I’ll be sharing stories, photos, and tips and tricks from my travels on this blog, as well as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I hope you’ll follow along and join me on my adventures – it’s going to be a wild ride!