Reflecting on 3 Years of Travel Writing
This month, I hit three full years as a full-time freelance writer. The majority of that time has been covering a variety of travel topics. Whether off-shore fishing in Rhode Island or bathing in the thermal baths of Iceland, from the outside, my life looks like an endless string of vacations.
In fact, I’m never-endingly annoyed when anyone tells me I look like I’m always on vacation. Anyone in our industry knows that these work trips are not vacations. However, it's quite hard to portray that when you have hotels and destinations footing the bill for your 5-star dinner and resort stay.
For years, all I ever wanted was to be with the female version of Anthony Bourdain (without the cocaine, of course). Before I set out on this journey, I remember watching an episode of Parts Unknown where Tony said:
“I travel 250 days a year. There are chef friends who I only see every couple of years. By conventional standards, I'm a bad friend.”
That sentence rang in the back of my head when I took off on this journey and still whispers in my brain from time to time. My motto from day one has been, “If I can get one person to step outside their comfort zone from reading something I wrote, then I’ve contributed well to society.”
The rest of the reason for pursuing this lifestyle? Selfishness. Pure selfishness. I’ve always hated having to report to a boss. I wanted the freedom to say “screw you” when I wanted and take whatever time off I wanted to see whatever remote corner of the world I decided was interesting.
And, frankly, I got that. I was gone well over 150 days in 2024. I was on over 60 flights. I achieved the dream I set out to achieve in 2022 and far faster than I ever imagined. As a religious person, I credit much of that to my God for being kind to me.
That said, I don’t really know how it happened. The last three years have been the greatest ride of my life. I’ve seen and done incredible things and gotten paid to write about them. I’ve literally lived my dream.
I always tell my friends that no matter what happens, I’ll have lived more life in 30 years than most people could in five lifetimes. My journey has been spectacular.
Oddly, I’ve quickly found myself enjoying my individualistic lifestyle. At a time when most of my friends and family are trying to build a community, I’ve found what I consider a community to be spread out across the globe. I know that whenever I have kids, my community will change.
But right now, I love having my “community” scattered across the world. I take no greater pleasure than being the friend who slides in and out of people's lives while maintaining an air of intrigue. I love people not knowing where I am or what I am doing this week. It’s fun and enjoy it.
I don’t know how long this career path will last. It may just be one more year, or it may be the next 20. I’m in a place now where I’m starting to say “no” to more trips.
Last year was the year I told myself, “I will say yes to as much as I can.” I have no regrets, and I’m thankful I went as many places as I did. But it takes a toll. I’m not as good a writer when I am living on an airplane. I’m not eating as well or moving my body as mindfully. There is something to be said about being in a routine. And I’m ready for more routine.
Many years ago, my mom gifted me a copy of The Alchemist, for which I am grateful. Perhaps my favorite book, I’ve held this little bit of literature close to my heart:
“People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.”
Amen.
