Six Years on the Road
December 10, 2019.
I shut the door to my house of 26 years for the last time. It was dark. I looked around to say good-bye, but there was no one to hear. I said it anyway, then took my first step towards the unknown — feeling the wind at my back.
I loved my house, but it was time to say good-bye.
December 10, 2025.
It’s been six years. I never intended to travel this long. It was never the plan, though I’m not sure I ever had a plan. But the world opened in front of me. And once I started, I couldn’t stop. I became hungry for new experiences. Curious as to what was behind the next corner, the next country. It just snowballed.
Forty-five countries. South America. Europe. Africa. India. SE Asia and more. I’ve gotten comfortable to fly into any airport in any city and shrug it off. I have my carry-on filled with what I need — time tested.
Once landed, I have my routine to get settled and comfortable.
My morning ritual…
Where do I find a good cup of morning coffee? Though that has proved difficult enough that I now travel with the perfect set-up.
All I need is hot water (and good ground coffee) for a great cup.
It’s hard to get my feathers ruffled. I always seem to be ready for my next adventure. Traveling solo? No problem. I meet people easily and have made many friends from around the world.
I love being a World Citizen!
I’ve taken a thousand pictures. I’ve driven the deserts of Namibia without a car in sight. Stood eye to eye with a lion in Botswana. I traveled during Covid while most of the world was trapped in their homes (ah, those were the days). Seen more ruins and temples than I can count. And the food — truly one of the great rewards of traveling.
All the while writing my blog so I can share with others.
Certainly this six years hasn’t always been good or fun. I have bad days. I’ve questioned myself (and still do). But questions are a part of life. Nothing to push away or be afraid of.
We’re all human. And being human is to experience life in all its manifestations. Isn’t this why we’re on this planet? Feel it, embrace it, then let it go, trusting that I will be okay. And maybe even learn a thing or two.
That’s my motto.
But let’s face it. Everything changes… and I’m feeling that now.
The excitement of landing in a new country, a new culture, language, food, sights (on and on) is starting to wear thin.
I just finished a three month trip… US… Portugal… Spain… Crete. And someting unexpected happened. I found myself sitting in a cafe in Madrid, taking it all in, then my mind started to wander. As lovely as the moment was, I had this urge to be back in Thailand. Back to my routine. Waking up in my own bed. Having a kitchen where I can prepare my own meals. Back to Phatzy. I quickly got back into my appreciation of where I was in Spain. But the moment still lingered. I was kind of split into two.
It’s something I should have seen coming. Traveling is tiring. It can be repetitive. It can be overwhelming (so many tourists!). Does travel have to be something that never stops? It can open you up. But maybe it can also be a distraction.
So I’m ready for a change. Trim back the travel to only a few months a year. And spend more time in one place.
So here I am. Back in Thailand. Chiang Mai to be exact. And it feels good. Feels like home.
I love Chiang Mai in the winter. The weather is cool and it’s a vibrant city. Not overwhelming like Bangkok or too sleepy (and touristy) like Samui. But the air can turn bad in the spring, so we’ll head back to our bugalow in Samui in February.
Maybe one day I’ll move here.
And to celebrate being back in Thailand, I bought a car!
When I stay still, instead of always moving, I notice things shifting inside of me…
I find myself happy living with less. Simplifying my life. I slow down. I sleep better. And when I don’t, it doesn’t stress me out. I figure I’ll just take a nap the next day. I also find satisfaction doing less. I’ve thrown away that checklist that I lived by for so many years. Good riddance!
I’ve also nurtured my spiritual side — allowing myself to focus on my inward growth. Breathwork and meditation have led the charge. I’m becoming more loving. More compassionate. Less judgemental of myself and the people around me. I’m also trying to accept whatever comes my way, not looking at experiences as good or bad.
I believe everything that happens to me is a gift. A learning experience.
I’m lucky to have Phatzy, as my companion. She’s a big change from every other relationship I’ve had. Learning to live with someone from another culture can be a challenge, but I thrive on it. There is a freshness to it. Who cares she’s never heard of the music I grew up with. And I have to appreciate her life being raised on a farm (without electricity until she was 17!). Makes my head spin. But within our differences we find a common ground in our daily lives. One of love and respect.
Of course, living in another country has its challenges. No place is perfect.
Living far away from my daughters tops the list (luckily they like to travel so I see them yearly). Finding friends that I connect with can be challenging. Nothing replaces the long term friendships that I left behind.
The time difference between here and the US takes getting used to. The flights back to the US are long. And you can’t get all the cool stuff you can easily get there. So I load up every time I return.
But all in all, you adjust.
My home in Koh Samui
What about the future?
It is something I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about, though it’s entertaining to consider.
Is Thailand my forever home? Only time will tell. Am I letting go of traveling? No way. I feel it’ll be something that I’ll always do for years to come. It’s my in my DNA, I guess.
Will I always be writing? I hope so. It keeps me grounded and connected. But I assume it will change over time. I’ll probably focus less on generic travel and more on what it’s like as a citizen of the world. Living a life outside of national borders. Whatever I do, I’m sure I’ll find trouble. What do you think?
There is so much noise out there. It’s nice to be quiet. Listen. Learn. And enjoy the moment.
By breathing in, I take in the power of Love. By breathing out, I let go of what binds me. Then I pause and experience the power of emptiness…
