What would you say if I told you I had been on the road for 800 days? Would you ask me what that means? Would you ask me how the heck that is possible? Would you be jealous? Or feel bad for me? Or just have sooo many questions?
Well today marks my 800th consecutive day living out of a suitcase – ok suitcases who am I kidding. I’ve been nomadic before and travelled before and “couch-surfed” before, but nothing quite like this. I’ve been to 27 unique countries, not to mention the return visits; I’ve travelled roughly 288,000 miles which is the equivalent of 11 times around the world and further than the distance to the moon; and according to my tracker I’ve made 442 steps. That’s a lot of numbers and stats to basically say I’ve been constantly moving for the last 114 weeks.
My journey started in London England – a place that was meant to be my home and was technically so for almost 4 years – but never felt like home. As my friend Amy astutely pointed out: “You hated London.” I went out in search – in search of something, in search of someone, in search of somewhere maybe? Who knows?
I’ve had some of the most amazing experiences of my life: cuddling Pablo Escobar the sloth in the Amazon, paragliding in Medellin Colombia, bungee jumping in Queenstown New Zealand, road tripping with my dad in PEI Canada, skiing on the slopes of Niseko Japan, surfing in Tamarindo Costa Rica, diving in Raja Ampat Indonesia, marching in the women’s march in San Francisco USA, devouring sushi at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, swimming with thousands of seals off the coast of Lima Peru, escaping volcanoes in Bali Indonesia, diving with hammerheads in Yonaguni Japan, kayaking in Doubtful Sound New Zealand, releasing baby turtles in Oaxaca Mexico, smoking cigars in Havana Cuba, speaking in front of 400 people in Chiang Mai Thailand and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
And now, 800 days later, what have I learned you may ask? Well, it’s hard to describe all the lessons I’ve gathered and the wealth of knowledge I’ve gained in this one simple post, but ironically, I’ve learned that home is really important. I’ve had this super power over the years to create home everywhere I’ve moved and traveled, be it hotel rooms, Airbnb’s, apartments, temporary houses or friends’ houses – it’s one of many skills required for the type of lifestyle I’ve been living. To feel grounded no matter where I am. The thing is, that in all that time, I didn’t really know what home was. I’d lived in so many homes and so many places that I thought were home, but they weren’t. I suppose it’s like when you think you are in love and then the real thing comes along and you realize you weren’t before, or experiencing your first real orgasm.
I’ve found my home. The place I want to be, the place I am from, the place I have always been from I just hadn’t found it yet. Place is now my number one priority. All other decisions, actions and ideas revolve around being in one place – a complete about turn for this nomadic soul.
And thus, presents the next chapter of my life, the next challenge, the next journey to take – how to create the life I want and need in one place. I have such gratitude for the opportunity to take on this challenge and I take it on with joy and gusto. I am trusting the universe. I am making my intentions clear. I am going all in.
So tomorrow when I wake up on day 801 I will still be living out of suitcases and storage lockers, but I’m focused and enthusiastic and full of joy. Bring it on, I’ve got this.
