So, today, I've officially been traveling for two months. And I'm about four months removed from having a house or apartment that I can call my own. But really, it's the two month anniversary of traveling part that matters. And, its an interesting time to think reflect on what's happened and where I'm headed.
25% or so of the travel time of the trip (not including time in Miami/New Orleans in December or the time in Florida before leaving) is done. Someone recently asked me what I've learned since starting this journey. Not a bad idea to document the things I think I've learned (about myself and other random stuff) since starting this trip around the world.
Here's the current rundown:
- I Like it Slow (really slow [ I'm only mostly talking about travel here]) - Some of my favorite moments have come from taking an extra day or two to just wander the streets of some place I've decided to linger instead of trying to tack on a new destination.
- What people expect to be interesting isn't necessarily interesting to me (this is code for I like some pretty boring things) - Many of my highlights involve riding a bike or walking down streets in new places just jamming out to my tunes and daydreaming. I like all the other stuff too, but it's been wonderful to just walk and run and bike in new places and soak it in.
- Speaking of which: Daydreaming is heaven - It's been so fun to just have the freedom to spend time thinking about almost anything. The specifics don't matter, but the time and freedom to ponder whatever fancies me in the moment is truly a blessing.
- Freedom is just a few minutes/days/weeks/decisions/choices/savings/jobs away - I think it's crazy how quickly my life changed from a pretty routine-driven structured existence to one of pure freedom. It's totally confidence-boosting that whatever it is we want, we can have, and its just a few decisions or milestones away.
- It's the people (always the people) that have made this special: It's the conversations. It's the new perspectives. The best thing about the road has been the folks. (Queue Depeche Mode: "People are people..."
- I'm pretty resilient - There have been some moments that were challenging and that I wasn't sure would at the time would easily fade into distant memories. But they did, and I was having a blast quickly thereafter.
- I could have planned more and maybe didn't give the first couple of months enough deliberate thought - No Biggie, but I'm committing to more deliberate use of my time for the next six months. This will include a lot of hanging out and taking it slow. Some days I might do nothing - and I love that. But I'll be doing it because I've considered my options.
- I both love and hate being alone - some of the best times of the trip I've been completely alone wandering the streets of Tel Aviv or some other place, without wifi and not really connected to my network. But other times, it's been less fun to not share some of the cool stuff I've been doing with anyone in the moment. Navigating this has been kind of fun.
- I'm easily knocked off-budget - I can get pretty excited about what's going on and forget this whole I have no income thing. Just something to consider.
- I have a lot less free time than I thought I would- I spent a lot of time thinking about all of the cool things I'd do with my free time: THREE Blog projects. Revisiting my Italian Studies. Vetting graduate programs. Underwater basketweaving. You get the point. I thought I was going to be way more bored than I have been. Just keeping up with documenting my trip here has been a challenge.
- I'm working out MUCH less than I thought I would, but running much more than I was back home. This has been good - I think I've upped my average mileage and improved my average mile time during this trip - not too shabby.
- I miss my Purple and Yellow Japanese Hat (Which is actually mostly red in color) - I didn't bring it on the trip because it is definitely nearing its final stages of usage. But, wow, it's weird not having access to it. It's definitely the article of clothing I've worn the most in my life to date.
- I never don't say I'm from Miami but Live In New Orleans (lived) - I have a hard time saying I'm just from Miami and not including New Orleans. Simple, but interesting.
- I can't wait to get to South America to speak Spanish full time for a few months
- I don't think I'm ever going to really get over my hatred of flying - but I have grown to enjoy the odd plane drink or three and that seems to help.
- I get lost A TON - man do I have a terrible sense of direction. It's been even more apparent now that I'm traveling with Litsy, who has a great sense of direction. I'm constantly trying to get us to go in the wrong direction. It's pretty hysterical.
- I'm kind of obsessing with trying to get to Africa at some point soon.
The key thing I would say about the trip thus far is that I've tasted freedom and that it is delicious, intoxicating and rejuvenating. Here's to at least six more months of that. Here are the pics I think capture that feeling of freedom:
It's Exhilarating:
It's Calming:
It feels like accomplishment: