about me
May Lake, Yosemite National Park
"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes...even you."
-Anne Lamott
South Fork American River; Lotus, California
Why do I travel?
In a time when social media is everywhere at every turn, I find it necessary to escape real life every once in a while. It reminds me who is important in my life, but also what is important. And let’s be honest, it forces me not to take life (and myself) so seriously. For this Type A, self proclaimed control freak (wait a minute, I think my mom has called me this, too…and maybe my husband…hmmmm, maybe this is not so self proclaimed, after all) traveling forces me to go with the flow. You can’t predict weather (buckets of snow during a spring break trip…more than once) or air travel (sitting on the tarmac until we were all bordering on tears), but you can CHOOSE to make once in a lifetime memories (crossing paths with an elk just steps from your hiking trail or getting submerged in chilly water during your kids’ first white water rafting experience). Traveling brings me back to the beauty of life, even if we often need a vacation from our vacation. If you should know anything about me it is that I don’t sit still very well. I invite you to come along on our travel adventures. Grab a good book and a strong cup of coffee. Let’s go on an adventure.
Who makes up my entourage?
My most constant travel partners are obviously my immediate family. My husband of 14 years, Jason, and our two daughters. Bella is 13 (oh the teenage years) and Sophia is 11 (her own brand of drama). They are almost always up for an adventure. And even when they aren’t, I am not above guilting them into participating (“Okay, that’s fine. I just gave up my entire weekend last week for a swim meet. But we can stay home this weekend.” Works like a charm.)
But what I’ve found through the years is that a varied travel posse is important to keep the travel euphoria alive and well. Sometimes that means a weekend cruise with Jason or a long weekend at the beach with our closest family friends. And sometimes it’s a car full of preteens and teenagers on a day trip to a new adventure in our beautiful state of Florida. (Being the only adult in the car allows you to very easily eavesdrop on all the tea being spilled…they talk like you are not even in the room. I highly recommend it!)
Whoever your travel party is, make sure they are people you ENJOY being around. Travel should be fun. Not exhausting. Or stressful. Or a chore. If somebody’s presence doesn’t fill your bucket, it’s time to pick a new travel partner.