“Real life” just isn’t as inspiring as my backpacking life. I just don’t feel that same way about it. The passion and excitement of wanting to share my adventures with the world isn’t the same. I mean my romantic life is stable (I’m with George-the man of my dreams, the man that encouraged and inspired my travels), the other man in my life is not actually a man (hey they vet and the shelter both said my purring beast was a he…but I love her just the same) and I’m not really doing any traveling which kind of negates the main point of this blog.
However, this evening I was reminiscing about last year. I mean, here I am, a little over a year since I created this blog. I’ve done so much, seen so much and experience so much. I’ve grown and changed and have become a person I like and a person I want to be. A year ago, I was heartbroken, wanting nothing more than to escape those feelings. A year ago, I was wounded, desperately clinging to some idea that George might actually want me to stay, that he might want to be with me. A year ago, I was in love and grieving. A year ago, I just needed to escape so that I could deal with emotions from the past and at the time, the present, that I had buried.
Now, I’m happy and confident. I have a fantastic job and I am with the love of my life. And we’re happy. We make each other happy. And while he hasn’t said those three words that I would love to hear more than anything in this world, I’m not really worried about it. His actions speak volumes and it’s hard for him and I get that. I’ve learned that he needs to take things in his own time and while it was hard at first, I’m finally able to do that. Not that I want to make it seem like I’m rushing into things but there is a possibility that we may be moving in together in the fall. Providing, of course, that he can let go of his past relationship experiences with that and feel that we are different.
Oh right, I promised to tell you all about Barcelona. Well, I went to visit Melanie, who now lives there. While the weather was cool, the vino was cheap and it was an incredible way to relax and let go. I ventured into the mountains, chilled on la playa and man did we walk. Everywhere. I don’t think I even walked that much while I was backpacking. Go me?
The Romantic Life of a Backpacker 