Fort Collins (Colorado, USA) | Happy New Year - 02/01/2022

 

I took this photo the afternoon I arrived at the Albergue in Vilela, Spain. Clotheslines with clothes and towels were a common site at Albergues. My intent was to capture how Peregrinos live along the Camino. Unfortunately, I only took advantage of a couple of these pictures along The Way. I enjoyed interacting with others once more than taking photos once I arrived at the Albergues. 

Since returning to the United States, I have had several people ask me many questions. So I wanted to take the time to share a couple of them here. 

How are you able to leave everything behind and start traveling? 

This journey, for me, started when I realized two things. First, I realized I had way more resources than I needed to live daily. Second, my heart told me it did not want to work for a while. Once I acknowledged and honored these two things, it only required that I align my decisions with my goals.

The challenge I faced initially was breaking free of the consumerism lifestyle I lived for many years when I was younger. I remember someone telling me you don't own the things you purchase; they end up owning you. For me, this was a reminder of how quickly we can box ourselves into a lifestyle. When I was younger and made a purchase, I seldom thought about the impact and fallout of the purchase. Meaning I didn't worry about the effect of micro-payments on my disposable income. I also didn't give any thought to the restrictions objects placed on my freedom and flexibility. How could I overlook these key points? Had society conditioned me to consume without considering the impacts on my lifestyle?

This picture of the mountains near As Paredes, Spain, reminded me of the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado. It was one of the few times along the Camino where I missed the Intermountain West of the United States.

So once I decided to be mindful of my purchases, I realized I had more resources than I needed to live daily. By the time I left, my only revolving monthly payment was my subscription to Spotify and my mortgage. The mortgage was not much of a burden once I chose to lease out my house. Why had I not considered the flexibility and valued all that it brings sooner?

My heart had been telling me it wanted to take a break from working for some time, but I was not used to listening to it back then. I remember that my lifestyle was making it impossible for me to listen to my heart. I was consumed with working to afford or pay off things I already owned. But when I cleared all of that, then what my heart was telling me became clear. Its message was challenging to ignore. Why are you working when you have more than you need?

About a week before Otto started photographing me and calling me "The Rooster," I took this photo. I could never get the rooster to look in the right direction, so I left it out of the blog. However, I remember being captivated by the rooster's beautiful iridescent colors the morning I left A Roxica, Spain. How ironic is it that Otto gave me this nickname, as the rooster is the national symbol of the French? 

It's a vicious circular pattern we find ourselves trapped in when we are unconsciously making decisions. I learned to ask myself simple questions whenever I felt the desire to purchase something. This often caused me to change my mind. I think back to how often I purchased things I didn't truly need. Not always, but frequently. I found that in reflecting before making the purchase I frequently changed my mind. Why does it matter if it is on sale or a bargain? Why do I need this if I am trying to simplify my possessions? These were questions that I frequently asked.

This is a black-and-white photo of the monastery in Sobrado, Spain. I took this photo as I left town after parting ways with Sergio that morning. The sanctuary is immense and beautiful. Ultimately I chose to include other colored pictures, though in sorting through my photographs, I find them equally stunning now.

While visiting my family over the Holidays, I bought my plane ticket to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I remembered how close I came to taking this trip a few years ago and thought it would be a great place to reboot my travels. In addition, it going there allows me to travel differently than I have the past 6 months. Rather than packing for all possibilities as I did when I went to Europe, I will pack specifically for southern Baja. Also, this trip will focus on the outdoors and enjoying myself.

I love traveling to Mexico, though it has been > 15 years since my last trip. Southern Baja is a great region to explore. I plan to continue my slow travel approach and will spend about a month there, while visiting four cities, Cabo San Lucas, La Paz, Loreto, and Todos Santos. Of course, my itinerary is always subject to change, so stay tuned for more details. My plan is to leave Denver, Colorado, on January 16.