outoftheswamlows

Author: alison

Chapter 21: All the Things

As the time to begin our trek back to the Midwest draws closer I find myself reflecting on all the things from the past seven and a half months. We have traveled over 10,000 miles and have seen and visited many incredible places and people. My heart is very full with gratitude for all the blessings that this adventure has brought to us. We’ve been doing a lot of reflecting together lately as well and we’re both so thankful that we started our adventure in the US and Canada. We have learned so much, especially about what you don’t need to cram in a Honda Civic just because it “fits,” and I couldn’t be more grateful for the practice it has given us. It also gave us the chance to see so many of our friends and family before we go abroad, which is priceless, because we know that will be fewer and farther between when we leave for six months in Europe on May 31st.

Since I last wrote we had a lovely week in Eugene visiting friends where I took some beautiful hikes. I hiked some of the Ridgeline trail starting at Blanton Ridge. I hiked up Mount Pisgah and visited the Arboretum. I also visited the Owen Rose Garden and walked along the river path. We truly enjoyed exploring the town eating, drinking and catching up with our old friends that we hadn’t seen in five years.

We also spent a wonderful week in Seattle with Dave’s cousin. We hadn’t seen her in about six year so it was special to have that time together and see her life in Seattle. I also reconnected with one of my teacher friends that was good for the soul. We went to Bainbridge Island with friends and visited some of the Trolls created by Danish environmental artist, Thomas Dambo, and they are a sight to behold. If you’re ever in the area I highly recommend checking them out! https://www.nwtrolls.org Apparently they are all over the world so we might have to continue the “hunt” when we go abroad. The one other day without rain I visited the beautiful Seahurst Park and got a spectacular view of the Puget Sound. I’m so thankful for the time we were able to spend in both places with friends and family.

We have been in Vancouver for two weeks and I am definitely going to be sad to leave. It has been fun during this adventure to think about where we could potentially see ourselves living someday, if we ever decide to not call Saint Paul home, and Vancouver is one hundred percent one of those places. We LOVE Canada! We have ever since we first spent time here together back in 2019 when we took our three week road trip out West. We had been to Toronto for a day, prior to that before we flew to Peru in 2018, and that was only for a day. In 2019 we were able to spend time in Banff and Canmore and then on our way home we drove the 1,431 miles across Canada to Winnipeg and then down into Minnesota from there. Since then we’ve been to Huntsville (Algonquin), Montreal, Quebec City and now Vancouver. We have enjoyed everywhere we’ve been in Canada. First of all it is absolutely spectacularly gorgeous! The water is some of the clearest water I have ever seen. The mountains are massive and seem to be everywhere you look. As you know, being from the Midwest where there are no mountains comparatively, their majesty is definitely not lost on me. Also, the food is delicious everywhere you go. Their food standards only rival Europe’s in my experience. It is high quality and locally grown pretty much everywhere you go down to the local bar. We actually were told at a place we stopped for lunch right after we crossed the border into Canada that salads weren’t available because the lettuce they use is not in season. Finally, the Canadian people are truly some of the friendliest people I have ever had the pleasure to interact with and that is true of every city we’ve visited!

Vancouver has been on the list of places I’ve wanted to visit since 2003. It has everything. Rivers, lakes, mountains, bike and walking paths, great food, bars, restaurants, parks, and history. It is an international city that honors its Indigenous Peoples everywhere you go, and most signs have both English and the Indigenous Dialect of the area. I am really going to miss it and I am so thankful we had the chance to visit and am so glad we had two weeks! All the things. During our time here I have done a lot of exploring. One of the first days I walked over 25,000 steps and saw and visited Science World, Olympic Park, False Creek, the sea wall, Granville Island, Sunset Beach, the Fabourg, Davie Street and West End neighborhoods. I also saw the cherry blossoms, Totem Poles and Brockton Point Lighthouse in Stanley Park. It was a full and wonderful day. The city, combined with the architecture, rivers and mountains, is truly spectacular. I also took a day and visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge and the Cleveland Dam where they have a fish hatchery. And did a road trip to Squamish to see the Stawamus Chief, Shannon Falls and to walk around the Squamish Estuary that offered a beautiful view of the seemingly 360 degrees of mountains.

Last weekend, for my 45th birthday, we went to Vancouver Island and I continued to be blown away by Canada’s beauty. The forecast was for rain Thursday and Saturday but on Friday, my actual birthday, the sun came out and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. We took the day and drove the three hours over to the cute little town of Tofino from where we were staying in Nanaimo. It is hard to say what was more spectacular, Tofino and the beaches and parks in that area, or the drive to get there. We saw so many beautiful mountains and crystal clear lakes like Cameron and Kennedy that were as smooth as glass. It was a magical day and I felt very loved and cared for.

We leave Vancouver to begin the trip back to the Midwest on Saturday, only over 4,300 miles to go. We have to drive pretty far south to avoid mountains and snow so we have stops planned in Salt Lake City, UT, Omaha, NE and Oconomowoc, WI before we’re back in Saint Paul, MN on May 3rd. I am excited for the time we’ll be able to spend with family and friends before we go abroad. It will give us an opportunity to take care of our appointments, purge a ton of items that we’ve been hauling all over the US and Canada and sell the Civic, in case anyone is interested? 😉 And it will be another change from the life that we’ve been living for the past seven plus months. Luckily change is the only constant and we have had a lot of experience with it. All the things. I hope you know how much I appreciate you taking the time to read this. It really means a lot. Sending you love wherever you are!

Ridgeline Trail: Eugene, OR

Ridgeline Trail: Eugene, OR

The view from Mount Pisgah, OR

Bainbridge Island, WA

Thomas Bambo Trolls

Seahurst Park: Seattle, WA

Exploring Vancouver in 25,000 steps

False Creek Waterfront, Vancouver

Capilano Suspension Bridge

Capilano Waterfall

Cleveland Dam

Nanaimo

Cameron Lake

Kennedy Lake

Tofino

The view from the Tofino Port

Long Beach: Vancouver Island

The view from Cleveland Dam

Stawamus Chief: Squamish

Shannon Falls

The view from Squamish

Our route home

April 12, 2024
Chapter 20: Dave!

At long last, you get to hear from me. A lot has happened since August when we started this adventure and there are so many things that I could write about. Before we started on the road, I thought that I would have all this free time, without house and grad-school responsibilities. I had a lot of ideas about things I would do in my infinite free time. As it turns out between work (which I have been enjoying and has been going great) and exploring the cities and places where we are staying, I haven’t had a lot of time to pursue all the ideas that I had.

There are still many goals that I wanted to achieve on this adventure. One of these goals was to visit many of our friends and family along the way. This is what I am going to concentrate on for this blog post.

For many years, I have been telling friends and family that I would come and visit someday. Someday turns out to be a perpetual sliding window of time and is always put out into the future. Similar to the t-shirts that say “Free Beer…. Tomorrow”. For this adventure we set out to make good on these promises.

Prior to the trip we were able to see most of the family on my mom’s side when we attended my cousin’s wedding (and the first aunt/uncle on my dad’s side); and, of course, we saw a ton of friends and family that are in and around the twin cities area, and we continued this across many states. I was able to celebrate my birthday in Asheville, NC with one of my good college buddies and his wife, have a trip to Las Vegas with 5 of good friends, visit/stay with all my aunt uncles on my dad’s side including almost all my cousins and their kids current (and one future), meet some coworkers from across the US, and see many of our friends that have moved to places in other states.. I may have done more hanging out with people the past seven months than I had done over the course of 3 years.

I know I am lucky to have this opportunity. First, it has been incredible to be able to catch up and hang out with everyone for an extended time . Secondly, –I don’t even know how this was possible– somehow everyone’s schedule just kind of worked out. And finally, just being able to go on this road trip, explore, and be able to have a job that helps make this all possible.

April 4, 2024
Chapter 19: “Life’s too short, babe, time is a-flying” Rent

This week we are in Eugene, OR and we only have four weeks until we begin our trip home! I can’t believe how fast time is going and so I’m compelled to remind myself that I need to be intentional everyday. I want to remain as present as possible.

I have found myself struggling to really realize how amazing this adventure is, especially with all the incredible things that we have done and seen. When I last left you, I was on my way to the island of Kona in Hawaii, and it was absolutely everything that I had hoped it would be. It felt good to travel by myself even though I also found myself wanting someone to share it with. Both can exist at the same time. I was thankful for my space and the location, and the opportunity to take a break from planning and navigating. I walked a ton and read an entire book in the four days I was there, and it was exactly what I needed. I felt like I returned refreshed and grateful.

After finishing our lovely two weeks in San Pedro, CA with Dave’s Aunt and Uncle, the four of us went to the Santa Ynez Valley together, to do some wine tasting. When Dave turned 40, six years ago, we celebrated his birthday at Montemar Winery in Lompoc, CA. We chose that winery because it became a special place for us. We met the winemaker, Steve, in 2012 through Dave’s uncle. They used to work together, and before he had the beautiful space in Lompoc, they would make wine in Steve’s garage. We hadn’t been back since Dave’s birthday, and sadly, Steve has since passed, so it was a really special to be able to go there and honor his memory together. We spent the second day exploring more wineries that we hadn’t been to before. It was fun to learn more about different wines and the weather and landscape were perfection!

Last week we stayed with our dear friends in Pacifica, CA, near San Francisco. It was our first time visiting them at their new place, and it was absolutely wonderful to see and feel the life that they have created for themselves there. Pacifica is beautiful! Right on the Pacific coast, hence the name, with tons of incredible hikes. The weather was perfect for hiking on Wednesday so I went out and explored Devil’s Slide, Pedro Point Headlands, Montara and Half Moon Beach Trails.

We were also able to visit our friend’s light rail project that she spent three years working on and it was a sight to behold. It is very cool to be able to experience such an amazing accomplishment in person, and we are so proud of her! The rest of the week was spent enjoying the beautiful weather, exploring Chinatown and getting to play frisbee golf in Golden Gate Park. The goodbye on Saturday was bittersweet because we aren’t sure when we’ll see each other again, and our hearts are very full from the time that we did have together.

With how long of a drive it is from Pacifica to Eugene we took both Saturday and Sunday to get here. Saturday was a wonderful day! We were able to see the giant Redwoods found along the Redwood Highway and were completely blown away by their size. We had seen Redwoods in Muir Woods before, which were spectacular, and not much compares to the massiveness of the ones we saw on Saturday. We visited the Drive Through Tree in Chandelier, the Grandfather tree in Piercy, drove along the awe-inspiring Avenue of the Giants and got up close and personal with them in the Founders Grove. To say that it is a humbling experience being that close to something so big is an understatement. It really puts into perspective how insignificant we really are. The energy in The Founders Grove is only compared to what I experienced in New Mexico and I am so grateful that we made it a priority to visit.

Saturday we spent the night in Eureka. I will say that we had a pretty incredible universe/ small world moment when we were there. We stumbled upon this bar, North of Fourth, because we went to the neighborhood to check out the dive bar next door. We were drawn in by the light that was being cast from the windows, so we decided to go there instead, and I’m so glad we did. Aside from the cozy atmosphere and delicious drinks, we met a bartender there that knew two of the friends that we made while in Santa Fe, because he used to live there. If you’re ever in Eureka, definitely check out North of Fourth. You won’t regret it!

It is fun to be back in Eugene after five years. We are thankful to be in such a beautiful place and have some time to hang out with our friends that live close by in Springfield. I’m excited to have a different experience here this week because in the past I’ve only come to visit other people and had less time. Our place in on the edge of the South Eugene Meadows and there are tons of trails that I’m looking forward to exploring. With only four weeks left until we begin our trip back to Minnesota, I want to make sure that I’m taking advantage of every moment, and am continuing to live in gratitude for each and every day.

Also, just a little update on the Dave portion of this blog. I know people are interested in hearing more from him. He likes the idea and wants it to be worth your while to read/ is putting a lot of pressure on himself to provide good content. So for now Dave’s Deliberations (still working on the name) is loading…

So, I’ll leave you with this quote “Tell your friends and family you love them. Tell them a lot. Make it weird.” Unknown

Sending you love wherever you are!

Sunset in Kona, Hawaii

The Hilton Waikoloa

The view from my balcony in Waikoloa

Santa Ynez Valley

Brick Barn Winery in Buellton, CA

A painting of Steve. Montemar Winery, Lompoc, CA

Vincent Vineyards and Winery. Santa Ynez, CA

Devil’s Slide (Pacifica, CA)

Pedro Point Headlands

Montara Beach, CA

Half Moon Bay, CA

Light Rail Project in San Francisco

Chinatown Station

Light Rail Project-Chinatown Station

Golden Gate Park

Drive Through Tree-Chandelier, CA

Grandfather Tree. Piercy, CA

Avenue of the Giants

Founders Grove

Founders Grove

Founders Grove

Founders Grove

Founders Tree

March 18, 2024
Chapter 18: Six Months

On Monday, February 26th we marked six months on the road. It is hard to wrap my mind around. So much has happened. We’ve seen and learned so much. It is really hard to say if it has felt fast or slow because it is different all the time. One thing is for sure, I would do it again in a heartbeat. No regrets!

When I was in Phoenix, I had a chance to spend the day with a dear friend that I’ve known since my study abroad experience in France, back in 1999. So, 25 years. It was wonderful to be able to catch up in person and she asked me to include more about Dave and our relationship in the blog. I know that I gave our back story and motivation in the beginning and she was right, I should do it more.

When we originally came up with the idea of doing a blog, our hopes were that Dave would have his own segment, including photos, and it hasn’t happened yet. I think it is because he is busy working while we’re having this adventure and I want to be more intentional about including his voice/perspective moving forward.

Dave and I have known each other 27 years. We’ve been together for 19 and will be celebrating our 15th wedding anniversary at the end of June. I was 30 when we got married and he was 31. Our relationship has been through many seasons since we’ve been in each other’s lives and I am comfortable saying that, even in times of loss, pain and struggle, every year has been better than the one before. We’re thankful for the challenges that we have faced because they have all brought us closer together. This adventure would not be possible without him.

I told my friend that, even after how long we’ve been together, I feel like during these past six months our relationship has grown three times, just like the Grinch’s heart ?. I know I talk often about how steep the learning curve is and I think that applies to our relationship as well. The way that we’ve been able to improve our communication. The way we listen. The way we make each other feel seen and heard. The way we honor, love and respect each other. Of course there are times we stumble and our general direction is forward, which feels amazing! I absolutely couldn’t, and wouldn’t want to, do this without him and I’m thankful everyday for his love, patience and understanding.

Our pivot last week, from having a second week in Phoenix to going to Desert Hot Springs, just 20 min from Palm Springs, turned out to be the most fantastic twist that I hadn’t anticipated. I’ve never been to Palm Springs and it wasn’t even on our radar because, you can’t do it all, and I’m so glad the universe led us there!

First of all, the diverse landscape. From the desert to the mountains, it is truly spectacular! We were able to visit Joshua Tree. We hiked trails in Indian Canyon, Taquitz Canyon, Lyken Mountain and the Cochella Valley Nature Preserve. We saw enormous date palms at the Oasis and the ravens who love them. We saw waterfalls and the biggest boulders I’ve ever seen. I even went up the tram on Mount San Jacinto and walked in the snow!

I went into the week thinking it would be relaxing because it was just us, and with all the amazing things to see and do, there wasn’t much downtime. If you haven’t been to Palm Springs I highly recommend It!

We’ve now been in the LA area since Saturday the 24th. We’re staying with Dave’s Aunt and Uncle in San Pedro (which I learned is pronounced Pea-dro) and it has been wonderful to reunite with them. To say Dave’s family is generous, kind, warm and welcoming is an understatement, and we’re so grateful to be with them during these two weeks.

My dear friend from MN flew in on Sunday night and we had a fantastic couple of days exploring LA together. We stayed at Alsace in a great neighborhood of Culver City and it was lovely! The first day we visited the outside of the Griffith Observatory and saw the Hollywood Sign. We ate the most incredible chilaquiles burritos at a taco stand on Sunset Blvd and visited some vintage shops. Then we went and saw the La Brea Tar Pits, the Original Farmer’s Market and The Grove. We finished the day enjoying a delicious meal at MIAN West Adams with Dave.

Yesterday the sun came out so we pivoted and decided to head toward the water. We started out, after an incredible breakfast at Tartine, in Marina del Rey. We got to see harbor seals and sea lions sunning themselves in the docks and walked around the Fisherman’s Village. You could tell that area once was a destination. Maybe it was just because it was a Tuesday, but we felt like we had the place to ourselves. After that we wanted to continue to take advantage of the beautiful weather so we decided to head to Venice Beach. Luckily it wasn’t too crowded so we were able to walk along the beach and take in the culture. We even caught a glimpse of the Santa Monica Pier. We enjoyed our last night together with an incredibly delicious meal at Chulita West Adams. We ate well in the beautiful space and even got to meet the owner.

Making those kinds of connections throughout this adventure has been one of the biggest gifts. I am so grateful to my friend for making the effort to come and have this experience together. It was, yet again, difficult to say goodbye and now we can say “see you in two months!” Crazy!

Tomorrow, I head to the big island of Hawaii for my first time. It is also my first solo trip since I was living in France over 20 years ago. We were so close, being in LA, and I wasn’t sure when I’d have the opportunity to go to Hawaii again, so off I go! I couldn’t be more grateful for the amazing changes in perspective and priorities this adventure has brought to my life and I wouldn’t change a thing. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us!

Sending you love, wherever you are!❤️

Joshua Tree (Love)

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree

Indian Canyon (Andreas Trail)

Indian Canyon Oasis-Palm Springs

Tahquitz Canyon-Palm Springs

Tahquitz Canyon

Tahquitz Canyon Waterfall

Lyken Mountain Trail-Palm Springs

Cochella Valley Nature Preserve

Mount San Jacinto Tram-Palm Springs

Griffith Observatory-Los Angeles

Hollywood Sign 😉

Marina del Rey-LA

Seals and sea lions in Marina del Rey-LA

The view of Santa Monica Pier from Venice Beach-LA

Venice Beach-LA

February 28, 2024
Chapter 17: In the Flow

I feel like traveling gives new meaning/ understanding to what “the flow” is. I have heard the phrase “go with the flow” for as long as I can remember. Only in adulthood though have I actually thought about what that actually means. What is the flow and how do I go with it?

There are many ways to define what going with the flow, or being in it, really means. And of course it means different things to different people. I think that the past couple months especially have taught me what it means to me. I have for a while now been using phrases like “don’t worry about things you can’t control” and “don’t give power or energy to things that don’t serve you.” I feel like both of those have everything to do with being in the flow. I think this realization will really help me, moving forward, to enjoy the ride, and like I’ve been saying all along, to stay present and intentional.

This was good realization as our Air Bnb that we had reserved a while ago for the next two weeks in Phoenix canceled on Sunday, because of a leak, and we spent the next four hours trying to devise a new plan. We are mixing things up a little bit and are now we are going to be able to spend some time in Palm Springs, which is perfect for its proximity to Joshua Tree, which we were hoping to be able to visit on our way to LA. So, even though that wasn’t our initial plan, we weren’t meant to be in Phoenix for two weeks, and it is all going to work out!

The rest of our time spent in Santa Fe was truly magical and I was very sad to leave. Before picking up my friend from the airport in Albuquerque on the 26th I did some exploring of my own. I went to The Range Cafe in Bernalillo where Obama ate and enjoyed the huevos rancheros with green chili sauce. Then I visited Petroglyph National Monument which was super cool. “Petroglyph National Monument protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago.” (https://www.nps.gov/petr/index.htm) Finally I visited the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. I feel like it was important for me to take time to learn more about the history of the Indigenous Peoples of New Mexico and I am so happy I did.

My friend and I had an amazing time in Taos together and it was good for my soul to see her. We visited the Chimayo, “Considered to be an important Catholic pilgrimage center, El Santuario de Chimayó, is known for its side chapel where the dirt floor is reputed to have healing powers”, Taos Pueblo and the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, which we found out after the fact was featured in the movie Natural Born Killers. We did a little shopping and ate at Love Apple. It was truly a wonderful time.

After our trip to Taos we had one week left in Santa Fe and I definitely took advantage of it! On Monday I went and saw the new Mean Girls movie and then visited this amazing sanctuary/ spa/ restaurant that was recommended to me by a friend called Ten Thousand Waves. I ate at Izanami the izakaya style restaurant at the spa and it was absolutely delicious. I had the bibimbap which was served in a “500 degree stone bowl with vegetables, romero farm’s RAW organic “red chile” egg, angus beef over rice. mix it all up to cook the egg” and it was delicious. The bartender mentioned that he had actually studied to become a saki sommelier alongside the owner of Moto I in Minneapolis! Small world.

On Tuesday I went to Bandelier National Monument and it was truly spectacular. I know that I have said this before but New Mexico made me feel like my soul was expanding. And just when I thought that it couldn’t get more beautiful I visited a place like Bandelier. “Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country. Petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities. The Ancestral Pueblo people lived here from approximately 1150 CE to 1550 CE. They built homes carved from the volcanic tuff and planted crops in mesa top fields.” (https://www.nps.gov/band/index.htm)

I arrived at Bandelier right after it opened and it was a perfect day to explore. I basically had the place to myself and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I took the Main Pueblo Loop trail from the visitors center that brought me past Big Kiva which is an underground room, Tyuonyi which had at one time over 400 rooms, The Talus house, the Long House which had petroglyphs and was like an apartment building built into the cliff, and I was even able to climb a ladder and go inside some of the dwellings. It was awe-inspiring!

On Wednesday I met my friend who lives in ABQ in the funky town on the Turquoise Trail called Madrid (pronounced mad-rid). It was so nice to be able to spend some more quality time with her before we left and Madrid was a fun place to do it. I got a delicious dirty chai at Java Junction, we had lunch at the Mine Shaft Tavern and then we walked around the town and visited a few of the shops that were open. On our way home we went to Beer Creek Brewery together and that was a fun place with delicious beer and incredible people.

I am so thankful for the time that we had in New Mexico. There is something truly special about that state and it is unlike any other I have visited. I am still trying to figure out what the secret is to how every single person we interacted with there was so incredibly genuine, easy-going and friendly. After exploring Albuquerque and Taos I feel even more grateful for our choice to stay in Santa Fe. I feel like the cities were like a Three Little Bears situation for me. ABQ was too big, Taos-albeit beautiful-was too small and Santa Fe was just right. Lets just say I now understand why New Mexico is called the land of enchantment and I cannot wait to go back!

We are now in Tucson, we arrived on Saturday in time for dinner, and it has been wonderful to have this time with my mom and step-dad. who are here for the month. The weather the first couple days was gorgeous, sunny and warm. We were able to hike and visit Sabino Canyon where I just can’t get enough of the Saguaro cacti. I feel like they look like people dancing and I even found one that looked like it was hugging the one next to it that I discovered last year.

We were able to celebrate my mom’s birthday with her on Monday and I hope the rain stops at some point before we leave on Saturday so that I can visit Saguaro National Park as well.

Our friends from Minnesota are coming to meet us in Phoenix on Saturday and we’re going to go to Sedona, which has also been on my list for a long time, for the night. We’ll be able to see another set of Aunts and Uncles and cousins while we’re there along with close friends. It should be a wonderful time! I am truly thankful for being able to be in the flow with whatever happens. Sending you love wherever you are!

Range Cafe-Bernalillo

Petroglyph National Monument-Albuquerque

Petroglyph National Monument

Petroglyph National Monument

Pueblo Cultural Center-Albuquerque

Pueblo Cultural Center

Pueblo Clutural Center

Chimayo

Santuario de Chimayo

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Gnocchi at Love Apple

Ten Thousand Waves-Santa Fe

Bibimbap at Izanami (Ten Thousand Waves)

Bandelier National Monument- Los Alamos (Kiva)

Tyuonyi

Bandelier National Monument

Talus House

Dwellings

Preserved petroglyphs on the Long House

Java Junction-Madrid

Mine Shaft Tavern-Madrid

Beer Creek Brewery-Santa Fe

Sabino Canyon-Tucson

Sabino Canyon

Snuggling Saguaro

February 7, 2024
Chapter 16: Sun Salutations and Soul Searching in Santa Fe

I have never been to New Mexico. It is state number 49 of 50 for me so we were intentional about making sure we spent some time here during this adventure. I’m so thankful that we decided to spend three weeks in Santa Fe. The landscape, people and easy-going vibe are good for the soul. I have had a lot of waves of gratitude since we arrived on the 14th after a two day drive from Houston.

The first gratitude, was how absolutely lovely our place is. The closest co-location space for Dave to go to is 50 miles away, so it is nice to have a good sized table with a view of the mountains for him to work.  He does miss a comfy computer chair though, very much.

Second, and I know this is going to come as a surprise to you, is the walkability. Having never been to New Mexico, we were trying to decide between Albuquerque and Santa Fe and after driving in the traffic of Albuquerque last week I’m so happy we chose Santa Fe. Even though it is a smaller town there are several restaurants, bars, shops and trails to explore.

Next, is the mountains. Being able to see the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which I learned are part of the foothills to the Rockies, from pretty much anywhere in town, is something we haven’t experienced yet on this adventure, and it is wonderful. Being from Minnesota, seeing mountains is something that is definitely not lost on me.

Finally, I am grateful for the sunshine. Even though it is the coldest weather we’ve experienced thus far, mid 30s/ lower 40s, the sun that always seems to shine, is glorious. Again, being from Minnesota this is also something that is not lost on me. There, in the winter, we’ve been known to go over a month without seeing the sun. Then again, maybe the sun isn’t always shining here, it is my soul shining I’m feeling.

I’m additionally happy to have three weeks in Santa Fe because, even though I’ve technically been here 10 days, I’ve only spent five of them actually IN Santa Fe. That is because last Friday morning I had the privilege of flying to Cabo to see my dad and sisters! I hadn’t seen my sisters since our mother daughter trip to Cancun in November and I haven’t seen my dad since his visit to Charleston the beginning of December.

We took advantage of our time together by going whale watching with Salty Cabo Excursions and taking a water taxi from The Office to see The Arch, Neptune’s Finger, sea lions and several birds. We also enjoyed the amazing view and sunshine from our lovely VRBO that my sister researched tirelessly to find for us. Experiences are where it is at when it comes to my family and I didn’t take a minute of it for granted.

It was so wonderful to be together again. I am truly grateful that they were able to take the time out of their busy schedules to make it happen. I will say, that the goodbyes don’t get any easier though, especially since I won’t see my sisters again until we’re back in the Midwest in May. ?

Luckily, I get to see my dad again in a couple weeks in Tuscon, AZ, where he’ll join us along with my mom and step-dad. This will be my first time seeing my step-dad since we left the end of August so I am very much looking forward to that reunion.

Dave finally gets to have an adventure of his own on Thursday, where he’ll meet five of his closest friends for a guy’s weekend in Vegas.

Don’t worry about me though because I have a friend coming to visit from CA and we get to have our own weekend adventure together in Taos! I haven’t see her since we left either and I cannot wait to experience Taos together! It has been on my list of places I have wanted to visit for years and I cannot wait to see the Pueblos and visit the artist communities that are sure to bring more positive energy.

I am very aware of how fortunate I am. For everything that I am see and do. Experience and feel. Good and bad. I am grateful for all the people that have been with me along the way, either in person or virtually. I just finished reading the book “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig which had a lot of incredible words of wisdom in it. The were several quotes that stood out to me;

“You don’t have to understand life, you just have to live it”

“The only way to learn is to live”

“Never underestimate the big importance of small things”

“It’s not what you look at that matters it is what you see”

and my own variation of one of the quotes is about the importance of love! You can do anything you want in life, “but it is all meaningless without love.”

A life without love, I can’t imagine it. I’d say, a life without love is not worth living. And, I hope with all my heart, every life is worth living. So I’ll just say, I am going to try and do everything with love, and gratitude.

Sending you love wherever you are!❤️❤️❤️

Ps I don’t know if it is just me coming off reading that book, and I have a new sense of how “weird/interesting” airports are. Where you choose to sit, who you choose to talk to. Lots of variables and outcomes. It’s fascinating.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi-Santa Fe

Santa Fe Railyard

Sangre de Cristo Mountains-Santa Fe

The view from our balcony in Santa Fe

Rooftop reflections in Cabo

Cabo views

Humpback Whales-Salty Cabo Excursions

Humpback Whales-Salty Cabo Excursions

Humpback Whales-Salty Cabo Excursions

Humpback Whales-Salty Cabo Excursions

Lovers Beach

Neptune’s Finger

Sea Lions near Lover’s Beach-Cabo

January 24, 2024
Chapter 15: Lessons in growth

Needless to say, even four and a half months in, the learning curve of this adventure is still very steep. I know that it has only been a week since I have written, and I wanted to capture these emotions and thoughts while they were fresh, before I forget to remember.

I feel like I am still, for lack of a better word, recovering, after the busyness of the holiday. Can anyone relate? I’m working on getting back into my routine and trying to feel a little bit more regulated. I had a realization last week when we were in New Orleans, I am not the same person I was a year ago. Then thinking about it even further I’m not the same person I was four and a half months ago.

In this segment of, multiple things can exist at the same time, I am compelled to share that I can show an amazing amount of growth and regression at the same time. I also had a forest through the trees moment about how much my environment impacts energy. Seems like a no-brainer doesn’t it?

We went into our week in New Orleans, already feeling a little low on the energy scale, to move into a very disgusting place. If you remember how terrible the first place we moved into in Saint Paul was, you understand why that is a measure for the acceptability of all future places we stay. We told ourselves that it wasn’t as bad as that place, so we could handle it. This was our first time back to New Orleans in eight years so I return to the fact that I’m not even the same person I was eight years ago. Not only have my standards changed, also who I know myself to be as a person. My need to honor myself, my emotions and give myself what I need. I will no longer stay in a place, situation or environment that does not align with my truth.

We did make it five days in the horrible place, until a sleepless night due to rain, caused us to make the decision to move. I was proud of myself for the way I handled the situation and how I was able to step up and take care of my family. Previous Alison would have been bitching the whole time. Current Alison was able to find a hotel that had secure parking included, pack up our entire second floor apartment by myself because Dave was working, move it into the Civic and then into the hotel. I feel like I showed a good amount of grace that I may not have in the past. I also was proud of how Dave and I processed that situation together and agreed that we do not have to settle. That it is OK to give ourselves what we need. I also felt like we both heard each other and received each other’s thoughts and opinions the way that they were intended, without having to explain. I know that we will continue to honor each other’s feelings moving forward. I feel like my energy while in New Orleans, is evidenced by how few pictures I actually took while I was there. Interesting.

We are now in the middle of a week with Dave’s cousin and wife and Houston, and it has been absolutely lovely to be here! To see their lives and get to know them better is priceless. The sun is shining today so I took a road trip to explore Galveston. I am sending love to you wherever you may be!

View of NOLA skyline from Hot Tin

View of Galveston Island’s Historic Pleasure Pier from the seawall

January 10, 2024
Chapter 14: Happy New Year!

It has been about two and a half weeks since we left Charleston and there is a lot to catch up on!

I wasn’t really sure what to expect, having only been away from my family during the holidays one other time, and our extended family and friends definitely showed up for us by welcoming us into their homes and lives.

I seem to have forgotten how big Dave’s family is! ? His dad has five brothers and one sister. It had been six years since we had seen some, and even longer for others, and it was as if we never skipped a beat. Which is the way one hopes it would be. What’s cool is that we’ll be able to see all of them throughout the course of this adventure!

We left Charleston on the 16th of December and made our way to Florida, a day earlier than we had originally planned, and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The day we left it started raining so much it ended causing flooding that was reportedly the “fourth-highest tide on record.” (New York Times) Everything happens for a reason we just may not always know what the reason is at the time.

Our first stop was The Villages to visit Dave’s dad’s oldest brother and his family. We didn’t know it beforehand but we ended up being able to see both of their kids and their families who were visiting for Christmas. Another blessing. We hadn’t spent more than five hours with this part of the family at a time, outside of family gatherings, and it was truly wonderful to have that quality time together.

From The Villages we made our way to Miami Beach on the 20th for a couple nights. I had never been to Miami before and I am so happy we decided to stay at the beach instead of downtown. A fact I only realized when we visited downtown briefly before we left, it is VERY busy with a lot of traffic! Granted that could have had something to with the fact that we went downtown so close to Christmas. ? Miami Beach is gorgeous in a way I never imagined. It is very walkable, the Art Deco style is incredible-especially on Ocean Drive, and the sand is buttery soft. It was nice to have a couple days just Dave and I in the middle of our time in Florida. We were able to eat good food, visit the South Beach Pier and I even made time for a massage.

On the 22nd we headed back up north to Hollywood where we stayed with two very good friends for the next few nights. They had moved there in 2019 and this was the first chance we had to visit. The sun continued to shine on us on the 23rd and it is was 75° so we took advantage of the weather and went to Lauderdale by the Sea. We ate outside at Aruba, walked the beach and saw several Portuguese man o’ war! Yikes!

That evening we went to Dave’s dad’s youngest brother’s house in Pompano to celebrate Christmas with his family, including his son, and Dave’s aunt, his dad’s sister, was able to join us there. We were very humbled by how loving and welcoming his whole family was to us. When I found myself missing my fam, I tried to remind myself to stay present in gratitude, because who knows when we will ever have an opportunity like this again?

From Florida we made our way up to Orange Beach, Alabama which is one of the barrier islands. My friend had recommended that area to us a while ago, and we had never been, so we thought we’d check it out. Several people have since mentioned that it is one of their favorite areas and now we understand why. We were in awe how beautiful the endless beach was there. We also ended up renting bikes and exploring the nature center before we made our way to The Wharf for dinner.

Another thing worth mentioning is how many amazing people we’ve met along the way! It seems everywhere we go there are friendly people willing to chat us up and offer recommendations. It has been truly wonderful.

In an effort to continue to follow the beautiful weather, we are now in New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA), until Saturday when we head to Houston to spend the week with Dave’s cousin before we continue on to Santa Fe, New Mexico to finish out the month. I’ve never been to New Mexico so I’m very much looking forward to that. We love NOLA! The food, the music, the architecture and the people just exude soul.

Dave went back to work today after a couple weeks off and I was happy to be out exploring. I had coffee and finished my book, The Vanishing Half, at Elysian Bar this morning and felt transported to France. Then I rented a bike and road to Stein’s Market and Deli for a breakfast and then road to the City Park and visited the Sculpture Garden.

I am reminded today that this adventure, much like life, ebbs and flows. And, that going with the flow is a lot easier than pushing against it. I am thankful for this opportunity and very fortunate to be living it. I miss my family and friends and I know they’re just a phone call away. I can’t take anything in my life for granted because it is the only one I get. I am grateful. I love you all and appreciate you so much for being on this journey with me and taking the time to read this blog. You make my life better and more full just being in it! Cheers to 2024 being the best yet! I believe every year, whatever it may bring- struggles and triumphs, loss and joy- is and will be better than the one before. “It’s called manifesting, Look it up.” @akprzy

?❤️?

Flooding in Charleston (The New York Times)

The Villages Put Put

Morning walk in The Villages

Ocean Drive, Miami Beach

Miami Beach

South Beach Pier

Lauderdale by the Sea

Portuguese man o’war

Orange Beach, Alabama

Gulf State Park Nature Center

The Wharf, Orange Beach, Alabama

Jazz at d.b.a. on Frenchman Street, NOLA

Mister Mao

Jackson Square

New Orleans City Park Sculpture Garden

January 2, 2024
Chapter 13: Charleston

It has been a busy and wonderful few weeks since I last wrote. I can’t believe that our time in Charleston is almost over as we get ready to leave for Florida on Saturday. It has been a fantastic month. I can’t say enough good things about Charleston. We have met so many warm and welcoming people who are all willing to share good recommendations and oh my have we eaten well!

A few days after I returned from my time in Nashville we had our first visitor!!! We have seen many friends along the way but she was the first to make the effort to come see us where we are. It was so special to have that quality time with her and show her our life here, even though she had been to Charleston before. We did end up taking the hour and forty-five minute road trip to St. Helena Island to try Gullah Grub and the adventure did not disappoint. Along the way we found this cute little place called Lowcountry Cider Co. that sold local items and specialized in peach cider that was delicious! It was our first time exploring outside of Charleston and it was good to see another area of South Carolina.

Then last Thursday, the 7th, my dad arrived! It was my first time seeing him since we left and it was such a wonderful visit. It meant so much to me that he made the effort to come and see us. The weather was perfect on Friday so we went out exploring. We started out at the McLeod (which I learned is pronounced mc cloud) Plantation and were able to experience what life was like there from the enslaved peoples perspective. I appreciated very much that the story wasn’t whitewashed like learning about difficult events in our history can sometimes be. We learned about the people that lived on the Plantation, we were able to see not only the McLeod home but also the homes of the enslaved and where they cooked and worshiped. We were able to go to the cotton gin house and the fields where cotton still grows. We learned that sometimes the cotton can grow eight feet high and found it hard to imagine how one would pick it. It was definitely worth the visit. I also loved how being in the South reminded my dad of his time growing up down here and provided an opportunity for him to share some stories from that time.

After we left the Plantation we took a detour to see the “lowcountry treasure” The Angel Oak Tree. “It is considered to be the largest Live Oak Tree east of the Mississippi, estimated to be 300 to 400 years old.” And it was a sight to behold!

My dad mentioned wanting to see the beach, and there was an area that I had been wanting to visit called Folly Beach, so we went there too. It was recommended to me by a friend and what a great recommendation it was! Folly Beach is on the Atlantic Ocean and is absolutely spectacular. I can’t believe how buttery soft the sand is and the beach seems to go for miles. We spent some time enjoying the Folly Beach Pier in the sunshine and were even able to see several dolphins playing in the water.

On Saturday the three of us took an excursion to Ft. Sumter where “the opening shots of the Civil War were fired on April 12, 1861.” It was definitely interesting to learn about. We learned that the flag had 33 stars at the time even though there were 34 states. They also had a red line on the flag pole to mark how high the walls of the fort used to be, 50 feet before the war began. We were even shown finger prints in the brick from the person who made it. It was fun to have a good mix of culture and enjoyment while my dad was here and boy did we eat well.

With only a few days left I am going through my list of things that I haven’t done yet and trying to take it all in. Yesterday I walked 17,000 steps just exploring and eating and it was a wonderful day. This holiday season I wish everyone happy merry everything and I hope you enjoy the time with your loved ones wherever you are! ❤️

Gullah Grub

McLeod Plantation home of enslaved

Cotton gin house

McLeod Plantation

Angel Oak Tree

Folly Beach Pier

Folly Beach

Ft Sumter

Ft Sumter and a view of our ferry and the Ravenel Bridge

Fingerprints in the bricks at Ft Sumter

The flagpole at Ft Sumter. 33 stars on the flag and the red line marking how high the walls of the fort used to be.

December 13, 2023
Chapter 12: Holiday Hurkle Durkle

Holidays away from family are weird. Luckily, I have some experience with it because I feel like it would’ve been a lot harder had this been my first time away. And, even though we got to video chat and all the amazing photos were shared with me so I felt like I was a part of it, it was still hard.

It is also fun for Dave and I to make new traditions and memories of our own. We knew that we’d want something special to do on Thanksgiving, so we weren’t totally bummed out about not being with family. So we Googled “what is happening in Charleston on Thanksgiving?” We found a three course dinner by Top Chef alum Jaime Lynch at a place called Church and Union and that was it. The space was amazing! They converted an old church and commissioned the writing of “The Art of War” on the ceiling by a local artist that took them three months to do! Was it anywhere near what we’re used to? No. Did we still enjoy the experience? Yes!

Thursday was Dave’s first day off since we started our adventure and it was absolutely lovely to have a relaxing morning. The epitome of “hurkle durkling” which is a phrase my dad taught me that means, staying in bed long after you should have got up.

It had been a busy couple of weeks after getting back from Cancun and then heading to Asheville for Dave’s birthday adventure, so it was a much welcomed time to just be. When we were in Asheville we were able to accomplish one of his goals of walking the Appalachian Trail. It was a little bit treacherous trying to get up to Max Patch Mountain and well worth the effort. The views from up there, albeit chilly, were absolutely stunning!

We have been in Charleston for a week so far and we love it. It has been a little rainy and damp but when the sun comes out it is absolutely glorious and still in the 60s. I love the architecture and style of Charleston with its cobblestone streets and gas lamps. Its history and old-world feel are slow and easy. I also appreciate its walkability which I know comes as a surprise to you!?

I just finished up a weekend in Nashville with a dear friend as I write this. We saw live music by Shawn David at Tin Roof on Broadway, went to a Harry Potter pop up bar at Union Station, visited Dolly’s place the White Limozeen and had some incredible food at Biscuit Love. I’m so thankful for the time we have had together.

I have another close friend coming to visit on Saturday and we’re hoping to get to Gullah Grub, which was featured on Netflix’s show High on the Hog, on Sunday. Then I finally get to see my dad for the first time since we left on the 7th. We are planning on visiting the McLeod Plantation that was mentioned in the book “How the Word is Passed” by Clint Smith. It is notable for its effort to focus on the experience from the enslaved people’s perspective. As well as a trip to Fort Sumter, before we head to Florida for the Christmas holiday on the 16th. Dave has several aunts and uncles that live there and we’ll be able to see some old friends too.

I’m sure our time in Charleston will fly by so my goal is to continue to remain as intentional and present as possible. As I stay grounded in gratitude this post is in memory of my friend who passed away on Friday after a 16 month fight with cancer. Life is short, never miss an opportunity to tell the ones you love you love them. I love you and I appreciate you being on this journey with me!❤️

Max Patch Mountain

Walking the Appalachian Trail

St. Michael’s Church-Charleston

Old Slave Mart Museum-Charleston

White Point Garden-Charleston

City Market-Charleston

Rainbow Row-Charleston

Church and Union-Charleston

Harry Potter pop-up bar at Union Station in Nashville

White Limozeen

Shawn David at the Tin Roof on Broadway

Biscuit Love in The Gulch

November 28, 2023
Chapter 11: Lucky

There’s a saying I’ve heard several times that goes something like, “if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” This saying reminds me to try and continue to stay as intentional and present as possible everyday, because you never know what tomorrow may bring.

I had a lot of emotions yesterday coming off of five amazing days with my mom and sisters. This was my first time seeing them since we started our adventure two and a half months ago.

I’m happy that we’re taking advantage of the time while we’re in North America because who knows how much we’ll be able to see each other once we go abroad. I’m so thankful for their willingness to make the time, when everyone’s lives are so busy, to see me.

And, it was hard to say goodbye. Needless to say I shed many tears.

I feel like my emotions were amplified by the fact that our friend entered hospice yesterday as well. Yet another reminder to live life while you have it and don’t take anything for granted.

I’m also so thankful to everyone who has opened their homes and their lives to us in the past few weeks since we left Plymouth, Massachusetts. It has been amazing to see our people!

First in New York where we stayed with two close friends in the Bronx. It was awesome to have a laissez-faire attitude there because I was just there in April. It was a welcomed break from the desire to see and do it all, that visiting a place for the first time brings. Although that is the point, isn’t it? It allowed me to experience some things I hadn’t before like the view of Manhattan from DUMBO, which I learned stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, and walking across the Williamsburg Bridge.

Then in DC where we stayed at an Air BnB in the Petworth neighborhood. It was nice to be able to have some quality time with our friend who is in grad school there. I had only been to DC one other time as a child. It was fun to visit it as an adult and especially cool at night! I did several things there for the first time, for example, District Wharf, The National Museum of African American History and Culture, The National Portrait Gallery, dinner at Old Ebbitt and drinks on the rooftop of Hotel Washington, to name a few.

Now we’re in Durham, North Carolina, where Dave already was. We’re staying with friends in Durham, and then we’re heading to Asheville for the weekend to celebrate Dave’s birthday, before we begin our month in Charleston, South Carolina.

I have said it before, and I know those of you who know me know I have a tendency to repeat myself, so I’ll say it again, our circle is amazing! I know that wherever we end up on this adventure they will be there for us, in whatever capacity they are able, to cheer us on and carry us through. And our wish is to do the same in return! We are very lucky. ❤️

View of Manhattan from DUMBO (Brooklyn Bridge on the right and Manhattan Bridge on the left)

View of Manhattan and the Manhattan Bridge from DUMBO

Old Ebbitt, Washington’s oldest saloon founded in 1856

Sunset at District Wharf in DC

The Four Justices at the National Portrait Gallery in DC

Hotel Zilara, Cancun, Mexico

November 15, 2023
Chapter 10: Reflections

I am currently reading “My Own Devices” written by Dessa, and on Friday there was a quote that stood out to me. “Loneliness is the fare that you pay to be free.”

It has been two months since we left Minnesota. We have seen and done some incredible stuff. The four weeks that we spent in Maine will not be forgotten. We were very spoiled with dramatic beauty everywhere we looked. I was sad to leave and thankful for the extended time we spent there and the nice people that we met. We will definitely be back.

We left Maine on Oct. 22nd. Dave had spent the entirety of our time in Maine working from our apartment because there were no colocation places for him to go work at. We were both very excited that our week in Plymouth, MA would give him the opportunity to go work at the one office his company has in the US, located in Boston. When we originally planned this part of the trip we knew that we wanted to go to Boston so that he could take advantage of working with some of his coworkers in person and we thought we should stay in Boston. I am so thankful that Boston was too expensive and it led us to look elsewhere. That is what brought us to Plymouth.

I would have never picked Plymouth as a place that I would want to visit and I was pleasantly surprised. It is SUCH a cute town! Right on the ocean, very walkable, tons of shops and restaurants, and a few historic sites as well. Namely; Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. We also got super lucky with the weather. It was in the upper 60s, low 70s, all week and bright sunshine! It was glorious!

I was also excited about being in Plymouth because of its easy access to Cape Cod. I had been to Boston before but never have been able to explore The Cape and I was excited about being able to do that. I was able to visit Provincetown (P-town), Hyannis, Eastham, Truro, Falmouth, Woods Hole and Vineyard Haven (Martha’s Vineyard). I know there are probably people reading this that have spent a much longer amount of time in this area and might be like “I can’t believe you missed….” x, y, or z, and I think I did a pretty good job. I saw some beautiful lighthouses and beaches and got very lucky on my ferry ride back from Martha’s Vineyard to catch a spectacular sunset reminiscent of Hawaii.

Even though Dave and I were both ready to have some time apart, which we hadn’t had since we were in Quebec City, I missed him last week. As I’ve mentioned before the learning curve is very steep and after four weeks non-stop together, and then basically not seeing him Tue, Wed, Thur, was rough. Also, going back to Dessa’s quote, I haven’t seen my people in two months either and I missed them terribly. Multiple things can exist at the same time! It comes up often. I could be seeing and doing incredible things, and want to not be out exploring. I can be very excited about Dave being able to go work somewhere and miss him while he’s gone. I could be so happy that I am on this amazing adventure and wish my people were here with me.

Well, after two months of waiting, yesterday I FINALLY got to see my people!!!!! We arrived in NYC (the Bronx) for the week and we are staying with two friends that are very dear to us. Dave is going to be able to go work at a colocation place and meet us with some friends he has here and I am just going to chill. I am thankful that I have been here, most recently in April, and have zero anxiety or desire even to see or do much. I am just looking forward to quality time with other hearts that know mine! And probably some Fresh Noodles from Chelsea Market 😉

I am thankful for our circle and how everyone in it has continued to show up for us even though we are in different places. I am so thankful to all my friends and family who have made time to chat and catch up. Hearing your voices have really carried me through my lonely spells, trust me I am loving solo exploring and am not lonely all the time, and I am incredibly thankful for you!

Until next time,

Love, Al 🙂

Plymouth Rock

Mayflower II

Plymouth Harbor

P-Town Pilgrim Monument

Nauset Lighthouse

Three Sisters Lighthouses

Old Silver Beach

The Knob

Nobska Lighthouse

Vinyard Haven Harbor

Martha’s Vineyard Ferry Sunset

October 29, 2023