I Choose People

What two months of travel is teaching me about why I go

“What is Bob going to do while you are away?”

I’m about to embark on two months of travel. It is not a normal itinerary—even for me. But it’s packed full of things I love. How it all came about is a story. As are the details—the where, the who and the why. 

And yet, this is the typical first question I’m asked. My well-practiced answer is, “You will have to ask Bob.” 

Repeatedly hearing the question has made me think—about marriage and the assumptions we make about roles and expectations. Mostly, it’s reminded me why I travel. What feeds my curious soul. How I make choices.

Looking at the two months ahead of me, I realize I didn’t choose places.

I chose people.

The fall travel started out simple. I would link two experiences core to my life and work.

In mid-September, I return to the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

I fell in love with pilgrimage on the Camino with Walking Mentorship three years ago. On this return, I’m a newly minted Walking Mentorship mentor. I will partner with my friend Nuno. It will be my first time carrying a backpack for a week on the Portuguese Coastal route.

In October, I am among the volunteers leading the English Fluency program for newly arriving students at SEGA Girls’ School in Tanzania.

The staff, scholars and graduates of SEGA inspire me. Knowing this three-week English bootcamp is key to now 95% of the SEGA graduating class qualifying for university and becoming U-GO scholars, I had to experience it myself.

With a week in between, I’m traveling solo in Armenia. The country is a historical base for both wine and Christianity (coincidence?). It survived a genocide. Today it is a thriving hub for education and entrepreneurship.

That last part gives me an easy way in. I’ve already been introduced to new friends whose lives and work I want to know more about.

This is my favorite way to see a place.

My first travel add-on was the Azores.

Americans regularly fly over these Atlantic islands en route to Europe. Few people I know have made the stop. Since I’m going to Spain, I’m dropping in.

My niece Jamie and partner Miloš put the Azores on my radar. They co-author Life in Azores. Miloš has put his heart and soul into building and launching Lemon Bros Azores. It’s a coliving community of my kind of people—founders, creators and good humans doing life right.

Miloš studies the shifts in how people live, work and travel around the globe. This extended-stay community is his glowing real-life example.

Seafood, hiking and sunset hangs are the agenda. I will be the rare American and Gen-Xer among digital nomads.

Secretly, I love that.

“I’m celebrating my 50th birthday at a villa in Tuscany. Can you come?”

I checked the end date of my Tanzania volunteering commitment. It aligned perfectly.

“I’m in. I have to stop in Europe on the way back to the U.S. anyway.”

Some invitations allow for immediate acceptance. This was one of them.

Aniseh and I met on my inaugural walk of the Camino. We bonded over personal stories and have been collaborating on life projects ever since. We hike. We drink wine. We laugh loudly.

This friend does anything for her special people. She creates gatherings like no other.

And since birthdays should be celebrated loudly, I’m ending October in Italy.

“You should come to Provence to visit.”

My new friend didn’t know of my extended Italy plans. But I did. And what’s a few more days when already in Europe?

I follow Tatiana on Instagram. She is among the first Walking Mentorship mentors. She’s a cellist. She fell so hard for Provence that she uprooted from London.

She’s been experimenting with how to merge these facets of herself—Provence, sound, nature and mentoring. In finding her voice, she’s helping others do the same.

We could learn from each other.

I love exploring new people and ideas.

When I do, the most unexpected beautiful things unfold.

The question isn’t what Bob will do while I’m gone.

It’s how I got so lucky to build a marriage—and a life—that has room for this exploration.

Room to follow a friendship. To wonder what someone’s life looks like from the inside. To say yes when a person or experience—more than a place—pulls me to go.

I used to think I traveled because I’m curious about the world.

Looking at my choices, I see the pattern.

I choose people.

People who intrigue me. Who challenge how I think. Whose lives have unfolded differently from my own. People I already love—and those I have a hunch I might.

The world is just where I go to find them.

Follow along with me this fall by Following me on social media. I’ll be sharing written and video stories. I have no idea to the other unexpected beautiful things that might unfold.