Traveling IRL: June Insights
chronicles from your formerly government employed friend
Not sure how May passed me by because I’m supposed to have all this time now that I’m not working!!! 🙃
Somehow I am still super busy. I am filling my days with reading, walking Rosemary, riding my bike, volunteering, lap swimming, and oh yeah… languishing on the couch sometimes and scrolling while Gilmore Girls plays in the background.
Oh and right, I’m also trying to build this little travel content side hustle of mine (it’s fine, not a big deal.. just something I’ve been working really hard on that I’m afraid to admit that I really want!) Check out my blog here to see some of what I’ve been working on: https://travelinginreallife.com/
Truthfully, it’s hard to believe that 5 months has passed since I stopped working. Most days I feel just about as lost as I did 5 months ago when it comes to thinking about what to do next. I really am working hard on my blog and content but as far as significant income generation, it feels very far away.
Of course I’m applying to lots of jobs, but it feels like a natural time to make a big pivot. I’ve been thinking about jumping back into the barista world, I entertained a seasonal job at a winery, and I would LOVE to do an apprenticeship at a bakery. (if you know anyone who owns a bakery give me a shout!)
International development was my dream for so long, and maybe is still in the future for me but my wounds feel a bit too deep to just pick up and carry on and try to funnel that energy into another traditional 9-5. If that’s the end of that career for me, 8 years is a good run — 4 of them with USAID no less. I’m grateful for the time I spent doing something I was really passionate about and working with really talented and like-minded people.
Anyways, I’m really trying to focus on enjoying this summer and not to worry too much about what will come next!
June is a busy month for me! Some updates:
Me and Charlie (and Rosie) spend the first weekend in June on whirlwind road trip to Lake Tahoe so Charlie could participate in a charity bike ride around the lake. 72 miles and nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain on a bike is no joke! It’s as cool as it sounds and I’m so proud of him. We had fun bopping around South Lake Tahoe, enjoying the views of the lake, and I even got in the water!
I just sent two of my college friends (one of my college roommates and her husband!) off to the airport last night after a fun weekend of hosting them here in Portland. We went to a Portland Pickles baseball game, hit all the tourist hot spots in Portland, visited the Tilamook Creamery and Cannon Beach, hiked to a waterfall, and ate SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. I love being able to show my friends and family my world out here and SO appreciate folks taking the time to visit!
I have back to back visitors and will be hosting my MIDDLE SCHOOL bestie for about a week! There’s something special about a friendship that has stood the test of time and all the dumb mistakes and ex-boyfriends and personality changes. We always have so much fun together and are doing a big camping road trip through the California redwoods. Excited to do a deep dive into that trip once we get back! This will be our fifth annual trip and fourth state together!
Annual trips from 2021 (SHT), 2022 (SHT/Grand Marais), 2023 (Lutsen), 2024 (Portland/Cannon Beach) In May, I also went on a whirlwind trip to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks with my parents! Lots of time in California in the span of these 4-5 weeks and I’m not complaining. Yosemite was amazing. So grateful to be able to spend that time with them. Will also probably do a deeper dive into what we did on this trip in a subsequent post!
Planning on sticking to these monthly updates with some more storytelling in between to finish up the summaries of my funemployment Euro trip!
Thanks for being here as always.