How did I get here?

For 2017, I told myself I needed to get out in the world. It started by accident, like most things. Two dear friends invited my along on their vacation to go cross-country skiing in Austria. It sounded fun, but out of reach for me. I can't go to Europe! It's too expensive! It's too fancy. I'll do what I've always done for vacation, chill with family and friends out on the West Coast. They asked again, told me some numbers. My peers were traveling to far off places all the time, why did I feel like this was something that I couldn't do? 

So, this past traveled February I ended up my time in Austria with a solo German vacation for a few days. I'd never traveled completely on my own before. I wandered the neighborhoods of Munich, I hopped on the train to Salzburg on a whim. I spent time quietly, on my own terms. I asked myself what I liked to do. Most importantly, I resolved to do it again, but bigger.

As a teacher, I have two months free and clear. Last year, I opted to stay in New York to build my community and enjoy the staycation. This year, well this year I was going to stretch. I was going to live somewhere else. At first I thought I would go back to Europe, but then I listened to my heart and it was saying something else entirely. 

I've been dreaming of Austin since I visited a few years ago. Call it my Shangri-La. When I picture my future, it is in a small rustic house with a backyard, perfect for casual outdoor entertaining. I kept closing my eyes and seeing myself here. It was my fantasy. It hit me on the head so many times, I had to do it. After a glass of wine at the Dallas Fort-Worth airport on the way to visit family in California this April, I channeled Lorelai Gilmore and Elizabeth Gilbert and pulled the trigger on a one way ticket to Austin. From that one action, a two month travel journey organically flowed my way. 

I'm calling it summer of YOLO.