Emotionally, it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster this past week. Some days I feel great and feel like I can do anything. And some days I feel exhausted and just needing to rest. Movement is crucial, but I’m learning that rest is vital.
Looking back at the last seven days, a few big realizations have been running through my mind.
Fueling the Wanderlust (and an Overdrive Brain)
I am absolutely enjoying being a travel advisor. Researching new places and curating detailed itineraries is giving me life right now. My passport is practically calling out to me to be filled with international adventures, and I know I will visit all these places eventually—New York, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Bali are all on the horizon. Closer to today, I am dreaming of Hawaii and I can’t wait to go back at the end of the year to run the Honolulu marathon.
I love that this path lets me use both my creativity and my analytical mind at the same time (even if my ADHD brain is currently on complete overdrive!).
Lightening the Material Baggage
Lately, I’ve felt a strong urge to feel lighter materialistically, which has forced me to confront the literal baggage I’m holding onto. Case in point: I have a storage unit I haven’t even visited in several years, and it’s costing me nearly $200 a month. I don’t even know how I have neglected to get rid of it for all this time! Since I clearly don’t need what is inside, I will be going through it over these next coming days to see what I can sell or donate.
I actually had two perfectly good tires inside that I was hoping a tire shop would install for me. However, since they were stamped with a 2017 date, the shop refused to touch them due to liability. I get it, so I just left the tires with them.
The Fashion Philosophy: Looking Hot on a Budget
Wanting to live lighter is a beautiful goal, but it’s definitely a daily struggle because I love fashion. For someone with a background in fashion—FIDM specifically—I like to be fashionable and wear what looks good on me when I’m not rocking my athleisure or my “don’t give a fuck” outfits.
If there is one thing my education and experience taught me, it’s this: You don’t have to be wearing an expensive brand name to look cute, hot, or fashionable. To prove my point (there goes my ADHD brain again!), I actually designed and sewed my own high school prom dress. It cost me under $50 total, while others around me wore dresses that cost way more than they ever should have paid.
Real Talk: Pokémon Cats and Knocks
Of course, being a digital nomad living in a bus isn’t always smooth sailing.
First, there is the cat dilemma. I love my eight cats so much. As much as I want to keep them all—treating them like I’m collecting Pokémon characters—I’m finding out that I financially cannot afford it right now. Being on a strict budget while my unemployment is pending leaves me in a tough position… do I try to keep them, or do I find them a good, loving home? They truly are a blessing, and I want what is best for them.
Then, there are the logistical realities of the road. It’s not easy living in a bus because, as a security lady told me the other day, “Your vehicle stands out.” You really can’t stay too long in one spot. When she gave me the “you gotta get going” knock, I think she was a bit intrigued to see a petite woman step out to answer. But she was incredibly kind and understanding about it.
Finding Refuge in My Stomping Grounds
Because of those challenges, I’m incredibly grateful to currently be back in my “stomping grounds”—the place where I grew up. Every now and then, I come back here to spend quality time with family and friends.
My heart is completely full of gratitude for all the good, kind people who haven’t seen me in a while but still remember me as “that one young lady that lives in a bus.” I am so thankful that I can take parking refuge in front of my aunt’s house every now and then, or safely park for a few days in the lots I used to frequent.
Reconnecting, exchanging lighthearted stories, and sharing wholesome conversations about my adventures makes me feel less like a stranger to the area, and more like I’m exactly where I need to be.
A Note of Daily Gratitude
Before I close out this week’s reflections, I want to pause and acknowledge the things keeping me grounded right now:
- I am incredibly grateful to have a cozy tiny home on wheels that provides shelter for both me and my beautiful cats.
- I am grateful for the genuinely good, kind people I continuously cross paths with on this journey—your warmth does not go unnoticed.
- I am deeply grateful for the chance to start fresh in a space where I finally feel completely aligned, present, and true to myself.
Over to You…
I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever had to clear out literal or emotional baggage to make room for a new chapter? How do you handle the rollercoaster of a big life pivot? Let’s chat in the comments below!
If you love the raw stories, the bus life updates, or just want to send a little love to the Pokémon cat crew, you can Contribute to our GoFundMe Campaign, buy me a coffee to help keep our wheels turning! You can also follow our daily adventures over on Instagram.