Where I am Headed

First Portugal mid August and into September

• A week in the Azores Islands, then moving up the coast of Portugal by train and bus.
• Across the North of Spain by bus.
• A ferry north to the UK to spend time with a dear friend Queen Sarah in her English cottage
• Travel North by bus to meet my seastar Kate in Scotland!

 

Mid September, to the Balkans, potentially to head to North Macedonia and Albania to explore by car

 

In October, going south into Greece

• volunteering on an olive orchard owned by a Greek couple in their 60s.
• Then to the islands, where my sweetheart hillie will meet me!
• My mom and potentially my aunt will join me  for time in Crete!

 

After that, its not so planned out; the dream is to head to Nepal and then the Philippines. 

 

I’ve planned to be gone for about 6 months, skipping the fall and winter in Baltimore this year.  However, things and plans can always change…

 

About the Venture

This kerventure has been an 18 month project of planning.  It’s a “bucket list” trip, I am headed to some of the countries I have always wanted to go: including Greece, Nepal and the Philippines.  I will be traveling solo, but with the opportunity to visit and reunite with some friends from other countries and am so excited to have friends and family planning to meet me along the way!  I have left the dear home I was living in (renting) and resigned from my job of 13 years- taking big leaps. 

Just some insight in to how it came to be: first it was a dream.  Then a couple years ago, Maya Basik (amazing!) introduced me to seasonal mapping, which was the foundation and engine of my preparations.  Each season since Winter of 2024, I have projected action items for the upcoming Winter-Spring-Summer-Fall within 6 areas: finances, health, downsizing, travel prep, nomadic purpose and projects during travel.   This allowed me to sequence the steps with direction and organization to prepare everything to leave and be set up for while I am gone.   If you are a former colleague, you know I am an over-zealous and detailed planner, probably to a fault.  This projected involved many a spreadsheet.  

Lots of research went in to the preparation process (thanks Reddit) as well as into deciding where I would be headed (thank you Queen Sarah!) and how to get there.  I started traveling on my own about 20 years ago.  So I have systems and protocols of how I prepare and travel, which is always getting easier with the evolution of technology.  

I’ve had many requests by friends, colleagues and family to share my experiences and “bring you along”.  So, moving forward, I hope to update weekly and keep you all in the loop!