"How do you choose the destinations that you travel to?”
One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive when people talk to me about my travels.
I wish that I had a better explanation for you than at random, but in all reality, that is pretty much all there is to it!
Chicago would be a great example. I decided to stay in Chicago for six weeks after scoring tickets to the well sought after Era’s Tour. After calculating the cost of airfare and lodging to spend a weekend being bejeweled, it made most sense for me to move there and enjoy the city for a longer period of time than just a weekend away! It is pretty unreal that this is my reality and I can make decisions based on things like this.
Majority of the places I have traveled to as of now and have plans to travel to in the future are places that are vastly unfamiliar to me. Only one out of the five stops in 2023 was a destination that I had visited prior. The others were places that I essentially knew next to nothing about before moving there!
Crazy, I know.
Traveling opens our eyes to a world that is so different from what we are accustomed to. It gets you thinking about things that you normally wouldn’t and you have the opportunity to experience things that you might not otherwise have the chance to.
When I vacation, I often think that I could live anywhere. I am wholeheartedly ready to pack up my life and relocate to any of my vacation spots! After being in a location for a week, doing only fun activities, and not working, I am sure the vast majority of people feel this way about their vacation destinations.
The question that I like to ask myself: what is it like to actually live in these locations? What is the grocery store situation? How are the local people? How does the public transit work? What is the cities culture? What does a typical day here look like?
These questions and curiosities play a key factor in the drive behind choosing to live in these locations short term. I can tell you first hand that you get a lot more “real life” feel when you are in a location for eight weeks versus one or two.
It has been difficult to find a balance between wanting to be out exploring all of the time and taking time to myself as I would if I were in a more permanent location. Because I am not on vacation, this is very much my “normal” life. For example, reminding myself that it is okay to stay in on a weekday evening to relax, or having a self-care Sunday where I don’t climb to the top of a 12,000 foot mountain.
Obviously I want to take full advantage of being in the locations that I am and explore and do as much as possible. Sometimes I need the reminder that time, funds and mental capacities are not limitless. I have come to terms with slowing down and trying to live as much of a typical life as I can.
It has been daunting moving to places where I am constantly in a state of not knowing my surroundings or anyone in these locations but it has forced me out of my comfort zone. For the first time probably ever, I am being very intentional about my time, my efforts and putting myself out there.
Don’t get me wrong, I still often get nervous or anxious when it comes to trying a new restaurant or experiences alone. I have fully embraced the saying “fake it till you make it” and so far it has worked! Believe it or not, there was a time I couldn’t have imagined taking myself to a night at the museum followed by dinner alone, now that is a Wednesday evening for me. I have gained so much self-awareness and confidence over the course of the last year. The personal growth has been tremendous and I cannot wait to see where I will be in another year.
Going into 2024, I am looking forward to planning out my next several states of residence. Some at random with no purpose but to go, and others being more intentional.
I am always open to any and all suggestions for places that you have loved traveling to or would love to see me live temporarily! With that being said, feel free to drop some of your favorite destinations in the comments below!