So once the decision was made, I started Googling like a cat chasing a laser pointer. I was on a mission to find out how and where to start this grand adventure. I knew I wanted to explore, but how do you even start that? I stumbled upon a video of a woman traveling solo, and suddenly it was like opening Pandora’s box—if Pandora’s box was filled with travel tips and people wearing fanny packs. More and more videos popped up like weeds in a garden, and I spent days binge-watching them, trying to figure out how I wanted to do this. My ultimate goal? To find a place to call home where I could retire and escape the daily grind of life in the US—basically, I wanted to live like a sloth on vacation. I figured slow travel was the way to go. I want to see the country, state, and town, not just the tourist traps where they charge you $10 for a bottle of water. I want to chat with locals and get the real scoop. Would I be able to learn the language? Will I be able to build a community there? So many questions swirling in my head like a tornado made of confusion and excitement.
I scheduled a one-on-one Zoom meeting for 45 minutes, and honestly, that’s where it all started. I had a list of questions that could rival a toddler’s “Why?” phase: Should I sell my house? Can I do this alone? Did you really sell EVERYTHING? Do you maintain an address in the US? After giving it serious consideration—like, “Should I have that second slice of cake?” serious—I decided, yes, this is what I want to do. Or at least try. So, I started telling friends and family about my plans, and let me tell you, the resistance I got was stronger than a toddler refusing to eat broccoli. That just helped me realize I was on my own, and if I wanted to do this, I better be sure, because I wasn’t going to get much support. Most people couldn’t believe I was going to do this alone—which is totally understandable. But hey, I’ve made it through half a century of life; I think I can navigate the world alone. And so it begins... buckle up, world, this solo traveler is ready to roll!
