As we are headed on this journey, you should probably know a bit about me. Travel is in my blood. My parents have both traveled the globe…in fact they met on a plane and reconnected via the busiest airport in the world. Due to my dad’s job, I was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and visited half a dozen countries before moving to California, where I grew up. It is also the place we will always be a complete family, as my mom died there when I was 11. My dad, brother, and I moved to South Carolina when I was in high school and, after a stint back in California, I attended college. When I accepted a spot to earn my master’s at Villanova University, I did not know then how important Philadelphia would be in my life. I immediately felt like it was home, something I had never truly felt. Following graduation, I moved back home, took what I thought would be my dream job, and, when that fell apart, decided I was done pressing pause and was going to live where I wanted…Philadelphia. So I packed my car, stayed on my best friends’ couch for a couple weeks, and started to come back into myself. I have built a life, I am an adjunct professor and work at a non-profit. I have the most remarkable group of friends-I would be lost without them. I am happy. Philadelphia will always be the place where I was brought back but the journey didn’t end there!

I took a massive leap of faith in 2019 and headed to Bend, Oregon for a job. Two years, a broken heart, and a pandemic later, I moved to Spokane, Washington for a job that was supposed to the one. It wasn’t. While it was hard, and I considered moving back with dad, I found where I was meant to be (for a least a little while)…Odessa, Texas! So I sold everything, again, and headed south to a town I didn’t know existed before 2022. But that is life, it’s now been almost two years and I bought a house, got a new car, and a super mutt named Gus. Life is pretty good! Having roots has been helpful but my sense of adventure hasn’t left.

I have now made West Texas home and adopted the best Gus! He’s a super mutt that found me when I needed him most. Together, we have criss crossed the United States. He’s become quite the road dog and grateful for the companionship. I cannot imagine life without him.

To those who’ve been following the last few years, thank you! For those who have just discovered my little place on the internet, welcome! Lots of adventures planned and I’m sure some unexpected journeys!

-Kelly