Well, here I am - five full days into retirement. And let me tell you it is not as glamorous as they make it out to be. There’s been no shuffleboard, bridge games, or wine coolers. I haven’t watched one episode of Oprah and there is no jello in sight. I’ve even had to get out of sweatpants each day (I know, so ambitious). All joking aside – yes, I am currently unemployed, by choice. I do realize 1) not everyone has the life circumstances to quit their job and 2) a lot of people that are unemployed did not choose to be. I do understand how fortunate I am. I am so lucky to have a supportive family, great friends, been presented with great work opportunities, a great living situation, and have been given the opportunity to travel in the past.
For those that don’t know me, I’ll give you a brief history. I grew up in Oregon and moved to Colorado after college to work with two different sport organizations in Colorado Springs and Denver. A series of life events (which may have included recently entering a new decade…) kept reminding me that if you want to do something, do it now. And my something is travel. There are so many things I want to see and experience in this world I've decided that I need to make it a priority. I also want to learn about new cultures, meet new people, and gain perspectives that only travel can give you. So, I'll take approximately a year off of the 8-5 to explore different areas of the world. What is the plan you ask? As of right now, I only have my first trip booked, which is Australia and New Zealand, Oct-Dec:
Australia: Melbourne – Canberra – Sydney – Cairns – Arlie Beach – Cairns – Brisbane – in a matter of 22 days. We’ll keep you updated on how much actually goes according to plan.
New Zealand: Queenstown – Milford Sound – Mt Cook – Wellington – Auckland in a matter of 32 days. We're winging it a little more this stretch.
Travel buddy: Allison (friend and soccer teammate from college).
A few Lessons Learned (even before I start out):
1) Sometimes in life you have to do something that scares you. Really scares you. But it just takes a moment of courage to take the leap. And in the end, it will most likely be worth it.
2) The best (and most helpful) book I have read so far: "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day" – by Matt Kepnes. Reading this book made me realize it is possible to travel for long periods of time and on a limited budget. It gives tips on how to save money both prior to leaving on your travels as well as hopping from destination to destination. I highly recommend it for anyone considering a similar experience.
3) Packing for a 2 month trip in a 70L backpack?! Not an easy task for this chronic over packer. The good news is our current temperature range is from 45 - 90 degrees, which makes it super easy to pack into a tiny little backpack.
4) Don't forget to select your seats on your flight to Australia - or else you'll be stuck in the back of the plane, in middle seats, probably next to all the screaming and kicking children, for 14 glorious hours.
I'll be using this space to document my travels for my family and friends to follow along. I'll also leave tips, highs and lows, and lessons learned for fellow travelers who may be interested in exploring some of the areas I go. While traveling, I will also be exploring my love of design. My photos will be posted on instagram: @beholdcollective or @annam425 and under the inspiration tab on this website.
Thank you for following along and here's to many adventures to come!