#NoDayBuToday

Looks like I’m really doing this. 🫣 I’m going to take an entire year to travel around the world, experience a bunch of places I’ve never visited, engage in some serious self-reflection, and figure out what the “Third Act” of my life is going to look like.

On the one hand, this makes no sense whatsoever. I’m 56, not 18. I haven’t had a steady income for the past 8 months. And I’ve started to chip away at the proceeds from the sale of my condo in Chicago a year ago, proceeds that are supposed to be reinvested to help fund my retirement a little over a decade from now. 

On the other hand, I’ve been presented with an AMAZING opportunity that it would make no sense to forego. Well, maybe not “presented” with the opportunity; more like “stumbled upon.” But I do believe we manifest our experiences in life through conscious and subconscious thought, and I am occasionally wise enough to latch on to the thoughts and choices that will feed me both intellectually and spiritually. 🤲

It’s all in the perspective from which one looks at things. Turning the original list of reasons not to do this on its head: I don’t have a job that requires me to be in any particular location; I have no mortgage to pay or lease to which I’m committed; a bunch of my “retirement” funds are liquid right now; I don’t have a partner who might not like the idea of me disappearing for 12 months or a child relying on me to pay for college; and I’m 56, not 76!

If I wait until I’m retired to travel the world, it won’t be the same experience. My idea of a vacation is 🚴🏼‍♂️ for two weeks across Provénce and Tuscany (2003),  a week-long yoga retreat in Hawai’i (even though I’d only tried 🧘🏻 once before) (2012), or hiking through Chilean Patagonia 🏔️ (2015).  I hope to still be capable of doing those things at 76, but I’d rather not count on that!  

So I’m thinking of this as my chance to take that year of retirement when I am 70+ and moving it to this year, my 57th on the planet (we are 0 years old for our first year, so age lags by one year). And I figure to make up the difference, I’ll just work a year longer than I otherwise may have. (Yes, I know the time value of money; but hush now, you practical thinkers. 🤫) 

Or, who knows, maybe I’ll discover that my Third Act of life is extremely lucrative OR that it involves giving away all of my earthly possessions and taking a vow of poverty. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m just not going to worry about that for the next year (or maybe longer). Instead, I’m going to live in the moment as much as I am able, remain open to the possibilities that offer themselves, and just enjoy the journey on which I am embarking.

And I want to take you along on this journey! Both literally and metaphorically. A couple of friends already have plans to join me for periods of my travel; I plan to make new friends along the way⎯a great thing about traveling solo is the social opportunities it presents; and EVERYONE can tag along via this website.

In addition to the travelogue section (JOURNEY), this website features a gallery (IMAGES) with many photos, a section focused on culinary experiences (DINING), and this section (REFLECTIONS) through which I’ll share observations, thoughts, and musings. My hope is that the whole site⎯and particularly the REFLECTIONS section⎯becomes interactive, with visitors regularly sharing responsive thoughts about developing a rich and fulfilling Third Act of life.

So “All Aboard!” This vessel sets sail (on a ✈️) in seven days. #NoDayBuToday