“When you can’t change the direction of the wind, adjust your sails.”
–H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
This is my traveling mantra, but not something I like doing in my everyday life. When I travel, I naturally open myself up to wherever the experience takes me. But in my life at home, occasional surprises are great, but I prefer more predictability–probably because, for the last 23 years, I’ve had other humans depending on me. Well, hold my beer folks, because I’m back on the transient roller-coaster!
We closed on the sale of our house yesterday, but it was anticlimactic, because the buyers couldn’t be at the closing in person—they live in Canada. So, aside from the big hug from our realtor (Thank you, Kristina Keaney!), there weren’t any handshakes, or “Congratulations! You’re going to be so happy here!”, or handing over keys and garage door openers … so my husband and I decided we would go toast ourselves at 2:30pm on a random Monday afternoon in July.
Let me back up … In May 2021 (a few short months ago!), we had a 3-week span in our lives where:
We overpaid for a parcel of land to build on, after searching for a year and losing many bids. But it is perfect.
My in-laws arrived for a 3-week visit; we hadn’t seen them in 2 years.
Our daughter graduated from college out of state—my first airplane ride in 1.5 years.
Our 27th wedding anniversary came and went, with only my in-laws noticing.
And we received two offers on our house—from word of mouth; it never even went on the market.
So now I feel untethered, which is a very uncomfortable feeling for me at home. When a friend noticed me floundering, she reminded me to be careful with the words I use around this transition, to keep the energy positive (Thank you, Ryn Weisz!) …
So, my dear friends, meet the biggest ADVENTURE in my life, since becoming a parent 23 years ago!
Since we’re going to be building a home next year, we’ll need to rent for a while, starting with renting the home we just sold, until our son leaves for his first year of college; then my husband, 2 dogs and I will move into our friends’ ski condo for 5 weeks, until our winter rental is available.
Oh—and a week after we move into that condo, I’m taking a group of intrepid and very patient (they’ve been signed up since 2019!!) travelers internationally, to hike in the Dolomites. Then a week after we get back, our daughter boomerangs back into our space for about a month, before she launches out again into HER next adventure.
At one point, after the whirlwind of those three weeks in May, I cried for 2 whole days, because I couldn’t find the ground to put my feet on. But why? I live like this when I travel, I show other people how to live like this when THEY travel, so here I go! Bringing the joy and magic and wonder I wrap myself in while I travel, to my everyday life—one foot in front of the other, walking through familiar places with a new perspective! What took me so long?
These are some photos from when my daughter and I stayed at our friends’ condo in 2020–lots of hiking and napping, between work sessions! Our one dog was freaking out, being in a new place, with new smells and sounds, so he had to wear his “thunder shirt” until he settled down, which he did. How lucky are we?? This place is heaven! (Thank you, Stacie and Bill Waldron!)
#hiking #vagabond #newperspective #traveladvisor #dolomites #epicglobaladventures #nomad #maine #sugarloaf #travel #friends #transient #adventure