So You Wanna Follow Your (TRAVEL) Dreams, Huh?
Well you’ve come to the right place.
But first (for those who’ve been around here for awhile) uh, notice anything different?
Yup, I decided to rearrange the TL furniture and spruce up the digital decor. I guess you could say I was a bit tired of those silly hats hanging off the “Lass”, and just felt a new shift in focus was in order around here.
The truth is, while I’ll likely keep Ecuador as my base of operations for awhile (happily, I now have permanent residency, so no more fiddling with visas every few months), changing the TL background (from Vietnamese rice paddies to colorful Latin textiles, to…?) whenever I jump continents takes a good bit of digital work. So a nice generic backdrop of passport visa stamps (after all, the universal badge of a wanderlust) serves well, no matter where I happen to next call “home”.
Plus…
We’ve now gone through a couple of iterations of the “Tales of an expat teaching EFL in some g-forsaken…“, and the tagline just seems a bit too narrow. While I continue to dabble in (and love) teaching English in foreign lands, it’s really only a small part of my life as a perpetual wanderer.
Which brings us back to the title of this post…
The new tagline “Proof that you’re never too old to slap on a backpack and follow your dreams” truly covers what I (and this site) are all about. In short, I’m a dodderin’ lass who’s traveled wide and far most my adult life – ever solo, and happily on a shoe-string (after all, every penny saved inches me that much closer to yet another airline ticket, yes?) Furthermore – from the many emails I get from my fellow sisters (and brothers) “of a certain age” who silently yearn to likewise follow their own dreams of travel – my hope is that my tales of dodderin’ derring-do here will serve as inspiration (a real life role-model, if you will) that will prompt you to boldly blurt out:
Well heck, if she can do it – then *I* can do it!
Indeed, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to think that my crazy travel tales might inspire some other lass or lad (of any age) to follow their own brand of bliss, and just pop on a backpack and DO IT!
So if you’ve been dreaming of heading off to far-away places for a spell (or better yet, taking The Great Leap to expat bliss, like me), but feel a little shaky about skipping off on your own, and don’t know where to begin – trust that you’re most welcome here. Do post a comment, or ask a question in the FAQ, and I’ll try to help in any way I can. There’s truly nothing I like better than giving folks a nudge to turn their travel dreams into reality – one-step-at-a-time. After all, as I so (tiresomely it seems) like to perpetually point out:
This here ain’t no dress rehearsal, folks!
So get a move on, and start taking leastwise baby-steps to follow your dreams!
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
Dyanne,
Love the changes and I miss Cuenca so hard. I’m busy planning and getting things done so I can be there soon. Miss you!
Glad to hear your “Great Leap” is plan is chugging along, Heidi. When is your (permanent) blast off date? Cuenca is here waiting for you with open arms!
P.S. btw, I think I’ve even got a smidge of Jarlsberg left! 😉
I am leaving my job on March 2. I’ve got some things to do on my house and plan to put it on the market sometime in April. Depending how long it takes the house to sell, get my visa going, all the other stuff, I am thinking sometime between July and September. I plan on doing the 3 suitcase move on American and will also bring my dog, Bean. I promise I’ll save room in the luggage for some dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Cant wait to see you again.
The redesign is eye catching Dyanne and the tagline is sort, succinct and darn near perfect. I have no doubt that your posts will inspire some souls looking for new adventures to step out of the box, pick up a backpack and hit the road!
Thanks Anita. If I can nudge even one hesitant dreamer to set out on even a tiny adventure, I’ll be very happy!
Kudos on the tweaked site design and the new tag line … looks good!
Thanks Patti – good to get feedback! I just read your “What if…” post and… how exciting to be taking on the Camino de Santiago! A great little minimalist packing list. The only thing I’d suggest… as I LOATHE being cold, I always carry a full set of silk long underwear. Super light and takes up little space – packs a wallop of warmth for such a bitty package. With such, you could probably get by without both the cold-weather leggings and the sweater. Have a great time!