Freedom is my jam.
As a little girl, I was OBSESSED with the Statue of Liberty. I’m not sure what it was about her, but I thought she was the coolest lady I had ever seen. Maybe it was because she had an entire island to herself. Maybe it was because she was so big and steadfast. Maybe it was because of the ferry ride to go see her. Who knows, but I was serious about her and wanted to be just like her when I grew up.
I posed like her and of course had a few Halloweens where I got to dress up like her (One was in college, but I’d like to point out that I didn’t cheapen her royal status by going slutty statue. This lady deserves respect people!).
At the time, I think I was a cute kid who was infatuated by a big green lady. Now I think I was a kid who deeply understood all that she stood for and saw her as THE symbol of ultimate freedom {I mean HELLO, she had her own island!}.
I have my own business for many reasons, but if you ask me what my biggest why is it’s that I want to go where I want, when I want. That’s my big selfish why and it’s completely based on having the freedom of a career that allows me to do that.
But dreaming of that and making it happen are two different things and I’m often asked just how I’m able to travel so much with my business. Here’s how….
1. Life circumstances
At this point in my life, it’s just me and Buddy. I don’t have a partner or kids and there’s no one else relying on my constant presence in one place. That’s not to say you can’t do what I’m doing with a family, as I know people who do, but simply that it would look different and that’s not the experience I’m currently having. So when it comes to decisions while traveling, it’s just up to me and those sweet brown eyes.
2. The money piece
This is a big question I get asked and I know you’re curious! I chose to put all of my stuff in a storage unit last December, so I don’t have a place of residence. That means no rent, utilities, or other bills in that area. My storage unit is $96 a month, which I consider my rent payment. So this means that any money I would’ve paying towards rent or mortgage is now my travel budget.
3. Handling uncertainty
There is a lot of uncertainty when you don’t have a home to call your own. There’s a piece to the traveling that leaves you feeling ungrounded and at times feeling like you don’t know where you fit in the world. I faced much of that early on, but uncertainty and I are kind of BFFs at this point. It’s just become part of the journey and I know that in order to have this life, that’s going to be a piece of it.
However, there were certain things I absolutely knew before I embarked on this journey. I have two homes that I know if I show up on the doorstep with Buddy, anytime day or night, they will take me in (and be happy to see me!). One is my parents and the other is a good friend in Wilmington, NC. So I handled that piece of uncertainty right up front and when you know you have options if shit hits the fan it makes dealing with the rest of the uncertainties easier.
4. Support
Much like handling uncertainty, there were pieces I had in place before committing to this and the biggest one was the support. I have a TON of support from family and friends. My parents are begging me to come stay with them. My friend is always asking me when I’ll be back to visit. Other friends help with Buddy, moral support, and offer their homes to me as well.
I have a lot of people who want to see me succeed, live my dream, and be truly happy. They are really supportive of my vision for my own life and are lit up by the possibilities I show them for their own. So not only are they willing to let me stay with them, they actually see it as a gift that I can stay with them and a way they can contribute to my dream. What friend doesn’t want to help another friend and help make their dreams come true? I’m amazingly blessed and it’s been a practice in receiving to have so much help. {I really had to open myself up to the help… I can be very headstrong, stubborn, and independent.}
5. Logistics
Of course there’s the simple logistics of it all. For the most part, I travel by car and I’ve stayed within a few states. This is very much by design because I want to have Buddy with me wherever I go. It’s also what’s worked for my calendar and certain commitments I’ve had. We are planning a cross country trip in the later part of the year, which will bring on even more logistics to consider! I do fly occasionally, but try to make those trips 2 weeks or less because I like to have my dog with me and Bud doesn’t fly.
I also enjoy being in locations for 2-4 weeks. When you’re working and traveling, there isn’t time for sight seeing like a typical vacation. I fit it in around my work, plus I really love getting a feel for a place and feeling truly settled. The longer timeframes allow me to do that.
Because I’m in places longer, I like to rent houses rather than hotels. It’s more comfortable for me, plus it’s much better for Buddy. I get rentals from AirBnB or related sites when I’m not staying with friends.
I also plan about 3 months out, which I never used to do. I was definitely a last minute planner. But when you’re trying to ensure you and your dog don’t have to sleep in your car, you get really good at planning! So I have a general idea of where I’m going to be and where I’ll stay for about 3 months at a time. Often I don’t have exact dates, but I’ve found a general idea is all I need to make it work.
There are definitely times when the logistics are a huge piece to figure out, but overall I’ve found it relatively simple and things come together pretty easily.
6. Commitment
There is a huge piece to this lifestyle and dream I had that’s going to sound like an afterthought. It’s really the heart and soul of it all – I have a vision for my life and I’m committed to that vision, so when I got the opportunity to make this happen for myself I just saddled up and fucking made it happen. {That F bomb is seriously needed for emphasis.}
Much like being an entrepreneur, this journey takes some serious commitment. And guts. But really, the decision was easy to make. I have always wanted to be able to go where I want, when I want. I relied on my passion and trusted myself enough to know I would figure it out. And I’m still figuring it out. New opportunities and adventures unfold for me everyday and I’ve set everything up so that I can live out my vision and enjoy my life.
So that’s how I make it all work! It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it! And there’s a lot of ways to do life… it’s about finding what works for you in the season you’re in. I know I won’t always want to travel like this and at some point I’ll want to settle down. So right now, I’m riding the wave and enjoying the view.
