TIME TO BE NOMADIC AGAIN
A little more than a year back, I flew home to Paris with a desire to stay put. With two goals in mind, I set aside time to travel and signed up for dating apps. I set out to find a girl and expand my social circle, making new friends in Austin.
I wanted to build a new life in the city and settle down. It would be a time where I could establish roots.
The coronavirus struck, and I could not travel, but I could not do any of the settlings down socializing stuff.
Like most of you, I have spent the last year sitting at home, reading a lot, cooking a lot, and being bored a lot. There have been periods of madness and moments of “I’m going through it!” It’s like watching this SNL skit (the video is not available in the US).
I did travel some. I drove back to Boston to visit my parents and spent a few weeks in Maine.
In an unsuccessful attempt to live in Mexico for the winter, I spent six weeks there.
I was mostly alone in my apartment, however.
This is not to say that nothing has been good.
This website has seen a lot in the last year. We have slowed down and reassessed what our goals were. We streamlined our company and became more efficient with our finances. Since we couldn’t hold in-person events, we started virtual events. They have been so popular that we will continue to do them.
Even though we had to cancel it this time, I am happy with where we stand regarding the future of travel and where we will be when we return from travel.
I became much more skilled at cooking, slept better, reduced my alcohol intake, and read more than usual.
Here’s the problem: I have never understood the expression “you don’t know what’s yours until it’s gone”, as it applies to me.
My identity, my career and my travels were all taken from me. Many of the things I thought were my rights were taken away faster than Thanos’ snap.
Although I’m an introvert, travel allows me to be an extrovert. It’s the other side of my Gemini soul.
Before, I could go out into the world and be an extrovert and then retreat to my home to read, Netflix and my introverted nature.
COVID took it away, and I felt a little listless and empty for the past year.
The vaccine has made it possible to see the light at the end. I refuse to make friends and family, travel, and friendship for granted.
The pandemic has changed my outlook on life. Although I would love to live in Austin forever, I still need to do some things.
The pandemic that struck Austin last year caused the closure of the hostel I own in Austin. The building was empty for a year and is now being sold. This coincides with the end of my lease.
So, I am selling my stuff, getting vaccinated (50 per cent of the time), then getting into my car and driving until the road is gone. I plan to drive around the United States from May to May, return home to visit my parents, and then travel to Europe and the Middle East before returning to Austin in September.
Particularly, I’m interested in seeing many more national parks that I haven’t visited yet. I will drive west to Utah’s Grand Canyon and then to Boise. I will then go to Portland and then down to San Diego. I’ll then leave my car and fly to Boston with a friend.
I would like to visit Oman and Israel and then go to Greece to trek around the Balkans.
I don’t plan to meet people on the first leg of my road trip. I will not meet up with friends until I reach Salt Lake City. It will be me, lots and lots of podcasts, take-out food, and the great outdoors before that. Although I would love to hug strangers and hang out with them, I will wait until we are all vaccinated.
It all depends on the availability of vaccines and what is available.
It could all end in shit, but it can happen. We have learned from the pandemic that tomorrow is never certain. However, there is a trip planning again in my life and the hope that some travel will soon be possible.
It will be great to go back out there. To travel, meet people, and tell stories again. My original plan was to write another book for this year’s COVID. However, it has been put on hold until next year. Maybe this will lead to a new book. You never know.
Knowing where the road or the world will lead you is impossible.
I am grateful for the opportunity to go on another adventure and greatly appreciate life, my family, friends and nature.