It’s been about six weeks since I left on my no-return-ticket trip. Tomorrow, I will take the train to Frankfurt, then fly to Thailand the following day.

Stepping away from geography for a minute, I have taken on a new project. I committed to working with a book coach to write a travel book. The book will include travel stories but it is really about how we grow and evolve when we step away from what we know in order to explore and discover the world.

Whoof, I said that out loud!

Deciding to write a book caused a big sift in my whole energy. I have been purposely floating since retiring. I didn’t make big plans, I didn’t take a new job, I didn’t make big decisions about the house. I have just set course on a few trip and followed the winds. Now, I have agreed, in fact committed, to myself, that I will do the work needed to complete a book. That by itself has been very scary. I didn’t want to give up the freedom of floating.

I also didn’t want to look back in 20 years and wonder WTF was I thinking, not at least trying to contribute to the world. We have so few role models for how to live in retirement. I want to retain every ounce of my freedom and writing a book is a big commitment. Still, as I have quoted Peter Pan many times, the only different between Work and Play is that Work is the stuff you don’t want to do.  One of the huge takeaways from my coach is that I really DO want to write a book, it’s just really, really scary. Scary or not, I want to do it and that puts it squarely in the Play category.

So, I will write a book. Maybe a few people will be inspired to explore just a tiny bit outside their comfort zone, make a few new friends and see that the world can be a fun place to play.

That rolled into – 

–> I will start and LLC

–> I will make a website

–> I will hire a coach

According to dozens of Youtube videos, I should have been able to create an amazing website all by myself in 15 minutes. Not true! I watched the tutorials, tried my best and called it a failed attempt. I hired a contractor through Upworks for a modest fee. It was productive and frustrating at the same time. I closed the contract and would love a recommendation for a new contractor, if anybody knows one. In the meantime, please be patient with the imperfections on my website – I am having to learn as I go.

And, I am headed to Thailand, first to travel with Don and Mai, then north to Chiang Mai for a workaway stay. New food, new culture, new language! A little bit scary and very exciting.

If you want to track my travels, I added a  Trip Tracker page to this website. It even shows the current time where I am so you can know when to call. : )

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I appreciate your support,

Anne