Well, it's all over. I highly doubt many of you are paying much attention to this blog now seeing as it has been quite some time since my last post. Sorry that it just kind of fizzled out there at the end, but I haven't been able to bring myself to write a conclusion. Until now.
So, with Colombia sadly distant in my rearview mirror, it has been nearly two months since I left. That means I have had roughly that amount of time back home to reflect. This go around it was much more difficult to leave South America, because I have no idea when I will be back. The past year has been the most wildly entertaining and phenomenal year of my existence. And now all I have left are the memories. And a few bracelets that still dangle from my wrist.
I have realized that I now mark the passage of time by thinking back to what I was doing exactly one year ago in South America to the day. And I do this with each of my days. It is interesting how the entire experience now seems like the most vivid dream I've ever had. But then I think about why that is, and I know it is because I was living The Dream.
As much as I now long to establish a community and finally stop saying goodbye to friends and people that I quickly grew to care about, I also find myself tangling with a conflicting feeling. I want more. I tried to tell myself that I didn't have a strong desire to strap a bag on my back and take off for another year so soon. Obviously I would enjoy it, but I figured I would have a bit more time before the urge to do it all again came back at full force. I was wrong.
I would pack up and leave tomorrow if I had the chance. But maybe that is just the hangover talking. And no, not the kind of hangover that goes away after a few hours of discomfort. I'm talking about a travel hangover. This thing lingers like no other. It's like coming down from the best high of your life, but you can't just wait it out. It won't be gone tomorrow, or the next day, and I can't get all fancy about it and just hook myself up to an IV to make it go away. It tears at you, leaving you with an empty feeling, a void you know can only be filled through stimulation and exposure to new people, places, cultures, languages, food, and experiences. No, there is only one way to cure this beast. The habit must be fed.
Unfortunately that will not be for a good while. The time has come for me to settle down somewhere, make some money, and plot the next great adventure. For now, working towards a goal of traveling again will be enough to make the pain bearable. In fact, I know that wherever I choose to set up camp for a bit is going to make me happy, because I can be happy anywhere as long as I surround myself with good people. I'm excited to get all the things that I have missed out on over the past year that come with staying in one place. But I will be keeping my eyes fixed on the prize.
That's right world, I'm not done yet. And yes, I'm coming for you. Rest up while you can, because once I pick up my anchor, it's going to be a storm of epic proportions.
Thanks to everyone for reading. I truly look forward to the day when I can begin another travel blog and share with you again.
Always and forever, lovsies!
