In This Episode

• [00:00] Megan welcomes Robin and sets the stage: personal safety is the #1 fear she hears from women in the Solo Travel Sisterhood community and why this conversation is about empowerment, not fearmongering

• [02:35] Robin’s path from a hard childhood to 21 years in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps, corporate security at Starbucks HQ, and a decade in executive protection and the “why” that connects it all

• [05:44] The one lesson from his career that’s stuck with him: it can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime

• [06:32] How Megan met Robin and his partner Cristy in 2020, in a Dunedin, Florida parking lot, and how a golf cart ride to watch the sunset turned into a lifelong friendship

• [07:52] The advice Robin and Cristy gave Megan that got her through her divorce, including the line she says she’ll remember for the rest of her life

• [10:52] The first question Robin asks any woman about to book her first solo trip and why it matters more than any packing list

• [13:17] The most common blind spots first-time solo travelers have: being overly trusting, and over-relying on technology

• [17:53] Pre-trip prep that actually matters: itineraries, backups, document copies, and why packing light keeps you safer

• [24:19] What real situational awareness looks like on the ground: reading a room’s “baseline,” the five color codes of awareness, and the Secret Service’s #1 tool

• [29:31] How to tell the difference between the instincts that lead to the best travel memories and the ones trying to warn you, plus the book Robin says every traveler should read

• [35:18] Robin’s one non-negotiable rule for every solo traveler

• [36:19] Robin’s dream destination (hint: he’s not leaving the country)

Memorable Quotes

“There is life after death.” — Robin, on getting Megan through her divorce

“My why is protecting people and securing assets. I’m a man of action, and I like to put that toward good.” — Robin, on the thread connecting his Army, Starbucks, and executive protection careers

“Trust your gut. That feeling is your subconscious picking up on cues before your brain has a chance to figure it out.” — Robin, on why instinct beats overthinking

“Give yourself permission to be rude. No is a complete sentence — say it with authority.” — Robin, on setting boundaries with strangers while traveling solo

Resources Mentioned

• The Gift of Fear by Gavin de Becker — Robin’s go-to read on trusting your instincts

• Life360 — one option Robin mentions for sharing your location with trusted people back home

• Taken (2008) — the movie Robin references when talking about how predators work in train stations, bus stations, and airports

About Robin Nagele

Robin Nagele is an expert security advisor, author, and practitioner with more than four decades of real-world experience protecting people and securing assets. His career spans the full spectrum of federal law enforcement, global corporate security, and high-threat personal and executive protection.

Robin served 21 years in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps, rising to the top enlisted rank of Sergeant Major (E-9). In the private sector, he oversaw physical security worldwide as the corporate physical security manager for Starbucks Coffee Company Headquarters. Robin’s protective background also includes directing executive protection operations for high-profile figures and corporate leaders, assessing threats, and navigating dynamic environments across the globe.

Robin and his partner, Cristy, became close friends of Megan’s in 2020 and have been part of her life, and now this show, ever since.

Connect & Follow

Follow Robin

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rcnagele

• Website: nagelesecurityadvisors.com

Follow Megan & Belong to Where You Are

• Solo Travel Sisterhood (free community)

• Solo Travel Safety Starter Kit

• Substack: belongtowhereyouare.com

• TikTok: @belongtowhereyouare

• Instagram: @belongtowhereyouare_

Unlike Rachel Green from Friends, she did NOT get off the plane.

In the very first episode of The Belong to Where You Are Podcast, Megan tells you how a solo birthday trip 10 years ago turned into eight solo trips, 15 countries, and 44 states. She gets honest about the divorce at 40 that ripped the rug out from under her, why she chose to figure out who she was instead of shrinking, and how two months in Portugal healed her in ways she never saw coming.

Then she shares three truths solo travel taught her (including the dinner in Milan that made a self-proclaimed non-crier weepy), two very real travel mishaps, and a first look at the guests coming this season.

If you’ve ever felt the pull to go somewhere alone and haven’t gone yet, start here. The hardest part isn’t booking the flight. It’s deciding you’re allowed to go.

In This Episode

• 00:00 – On the runway in Toronto, headed to Iceland for her 35th birthday, and why a Leo never skips a birthday

• 02:50 – “Oh my God, I’m really doing this.” Welcome to the show, and who it’s for

• 04:32 – A quick peek at this season’s guests

• 05:13 – Iceland, and the woman who never planned to travel solo at all

• 06:10 – Divorce at 40 after a 16-year marriage, and the forever mantra “I’ve been through worse”

• 08:42 – WiFi Tribe, a 2016 interview, and the OG digital nomad dream

• 10:18 – 2023: two months in Portugal, four months after the divorce was final, and the country that healed her

• 11:55 – Remote-work stretches in Spain, Costa Rica, Panama, and Germany, and building a bravery muscle

• 12:35 – The Solo Travel Sisterhood (free community)

• 13:08 – Truth #1: Let fear come along for the ride. Snorkeling between two continents in Iceland’s Silfra fissure

• 14:11 – Truth #2: Take the seat at the bar, because bartenders are free tour guides with opinions

• 15:54 – Truth #3: The world is kinder than the internet says. A birthday dinner in Milan with two strangers

• 18:52 – Mishap #1: Almost missing a flight to Panama, and forgetting to enroll in STEP

• 21:00 – Mishap #2: A 17-euro dinner, 5 euros in cash, and a PayPal standoff in Costa Nova, Portugal

• 24:36 – The Solo Travel Safety Starter Kit

• 25:09 – Why the show is called Belong to Where You Are

• 25:44 – Coming this season: Meredith, Dr. Pauline Hoffmann, Ashley Lucas, Robin Nagele and more…

• 27:55 – Your turn: where would you go on your first solo trip?

Memorable Quotes

“That panicked voice usually shows up right before something is about to change your life.”

“The most difficult part is just deciding that you are allowed to go.”

“I figured if I could survive that absolute shitshow dumpster fire of a divorce... I sure as hell could survive eating dinner alone in a city where absolutely no one knew who I was.”

“I’m like the OG of digital nomads, because I was working from home before it was even cool.”

“Every single trip I go on makes my bravery muscle a little bit stronger.”

“Let fear come along for the ride, but just don’t let it drive.”

“Bartenders and servers can actually act like free tour guides with opinions.”

“Nobody likes walking up to somebody who’s got RBF, am I right?”

“People ask me if I get lonely traveling by myself. And sometimes, sure. But I’ve been cared for by strangers in ways I never expected.”

“Home is where you make it, no matter how long or short your stay is.”

Resources Mentioned

• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): The free U.S. State Department program Megan forgot to sign up for on her way to Panama. Register your trip and they can alert you if there’s a natural disaster, conflict, or emergency where you are.

• Megan’s Substack post on STEP: The longer version of why she enrolls before every trip, at belongtowhereyouare.com.

• WiFi Tribe: The traveling community of remote workers that sparked Megan’s dream of working abroad back in 2016 (and inspired her first trip to Portugal).

• Solo Travel Sisterhood: A free, good-vibes community for women working up the courage, the confidence, and the plan to go.

• Solo Travel Safety Starter Kit: A practical guide to help you feel prepared, alert, and confident on your first solo trip, without spiraling into fear.

Megan’s travel tips from this episode:

• Sit at the bar when you eat alone. Put the phone down, take the headphones off, and let the conversation find you.

• Carry a little cash, and ask if a restaurant takes cards before you sit down.

• Enroll in STEP before you leave, not after you’re already in the Uber.

Your Turn

Where would you go on your first solo trip? DM Megan on TikTok or Instagram and tell her. Yours might get read on a future episode.

Up Next

Episode 2 is out now. “I really want to go, but I’m scared. Is it safe?” Megan sits down with her dear friend Robin Nagele, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major with more than four decades in security, to answer the question she hears every single week on TikTok.

New episodes drop every Tuesday while in season. Follow or subscribe so you don’t miss one, and if this episode meant something to you, leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It’s how another woman who’s on the fence finds this show.

Follow Megan & Belong to Where You Are

• Solo Travel Sisterhood (free community)

• Solo Travel Safety Starter Kit

• Substack: belongtowhereyouare.com

• TikTok: @belongtowhereyouare

• Instagram: @belongtowhereyouare_

Two episodes.

One project that’s been on my heart for years gets released into the world.

As one of my amazing paid subscribers or podcast guests, I’m so excited to share a first listen before Episodes 1 & 2 drop tomorrow morning.

If you could also subscribe to and rate them on Apple or Spotify, I’d be so grateful! It helps my podcast reach liste…

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The hill I will die on is that women are God’s gift to the world. Seriously.

They give exceedingly generously to others: partners, spouses, children, pets, family members, friends, jobs, and the list goes on. But sadly, this is how we’ve been conditioned by society (ESPECIALLY if you’re an eldest daughter, like me).

It breaks my heart to see other women, especially the ones who are near and dear to me, forget about themselves and put everyone else’s needs above their own. They make everyone else’s birthdays special but get the bare minimum for theirs. They bend over backwards planning vacations around everyone else’s wishlist and forgo the things they want to do. They decline dinner invites with their girlfriends because there’s a family scheduling conflict. They go without, and all too often to the detriment of their own mental health, their physical health, and their emotional well-being.

I know this to be true because, once upon a time, I was there myself.

I was pouring an enormous amount of time and energy into my then-spouse, trying to be the ever-perfect wife (which I found to be impossible no matter how hard I tried) and the newly founded marketing consulting business that I was bound and determined would be a success. Add on teaching a master's-level college course during the spring, and I was on fumes. Something had to change.

Now let me tell you about my first solo trip to Iceland…and how choosing to do something for myself changed the trajectory of my life.

I still remember the intensely curious feeling I had back in early summer 2016 as I read a post on my favorite lifestyle blog, A Beautiful Mess. The two sisters, Emma and Elsie, pivoted from their regular content of DIY crafts, cooking, and fashion, and wrote a recap of their most recent trip to Iceland. I really didn’t know anything at all about Iceland (except it was really damn cold). But the more I read, the more fascinated I became. And the stronger the pull to visit became.

Booking a solo trip to Iceland (and the reactions)

My 35th birthday was coming up, and I didn’t want it to suck (see the bare minimum above). I had just finished teaching my spring track at St. Bonaventure, so I had some extra cash to blow. Even though I really wanted this trip to be on my own, I invited my then-husband to join me. He turned me down. Secretly, I wasn’t so sad.

And then, one plane ticket later, I knocked over the first domino in my incredible solo travel journey and was off to Iceland for seven days.

I’m not sure if my brain had really registered the fact that I was going to another country all by myself, but I never felt nervous booking my flights and accommodations. I was excited… and liberated.

Yet, my trip didn’t come without a fair share of judgment. I remember sharing my plans with friends and family. Most reactions were supportive excitement. Others got a funny look and a suspicious “okkkaaayy…” and an assumption that there was trouble in paradise (and they weren’t wrong…there was).

But I didn’t care and went anyway because I wanted to live life for myself and no one else. For once, I was choosing me.

Then, as I was sitting on the runway at Toronto Pearson Airport, the panic set in.

“What the f*ck am I doing?”

Fortunately, that feeling only lasted for about 5-10 minutes, and then I accepted the fact that there was no turning back and I needed to sit back and enjoy the ride.

And enjoy turned into a massive understatement.

What Iceland gave me that I didn’t expect

Iceland was more magical than I could have ever imagined (you can read all of my Iceland posts here). And yes, I took several recommendations from Emma and Elsie, including the most out-of-this-world potato pizza I had in Reykjavik. I snorkeled the Silfra Fissure, ate the local delicacy of rotten shark at a local eatery, drove Iceland’s Ring Road to its northernmost city of Akureyri, and visited the most Instagrammable little black church by the sea, Búðir.

I can’t imagine if I’d been too scared to go. OR believed that I could only take cool trips with my spouse. OR continued to put my own self-care on the back burner.

Years later, after my marriage hit the skids and the ink had dried on the divorce papers, I was never so profoundly grateful that I did something just for me. I have all of those moments and memories all to myself and never felt like I needed to suppress them because I shared them with the wrong person. And man, did I look happy in those pics.

Little did I know that making that decision to go by myself would turn me into a traveling fool and eventually be the key to my healing journey when my marriage ended.

Next week, I’m sharing even more about my Iceland adventure and my full solo travel story on The Belong to Where You Are Podcast when it OFFICIALLY launches on Thursday, October 13! Episodes 1 & 2 go live on Tuesday, October 13, with new episodes released every Tuesday after. Check out the trailer now and also listen on Apple and Spotify.

You don’t have to fly across an ocean to go solo

Now look, do I recommend that you jet off to a foreign country every time you get into a fight with your spouse or when your marriage is on the rocks? Of course not.

My point is that whether you're single or partnered, don’t stop doing the things that feed your soul. Don’t constantly put everyone else’s needs above your own. Allow yourself to have wonderful experiences and memories that are ALL yours. And it may look very different than my crazy solo travel shenanigans. Take a painting class, go to a wine tasting, hit up the beach, spend the afternoon at a new coffee shop with a good book.

Because, as I’ve learned the brutally hard way, that person may not always be in your life for reasons beyond your control. Then what?

And it doesn’t matter what you do, you’re always going to get judgment from someone, whether it’s well-intended or not. You have to practice discernment with a ninja-esque discipline, or else you're doing nothing but living your life according to someone else’s standards or fears. We choose whose fear gets a vote in our lives.

Fear is never going to be absent in anything new you do, or anytime you do something for yourself. Let it come along for the ride, but don’t let it drive.

Don’t wait until your heart, mind, and spirit are completely depleted. Solo travel may not be your way to refuel, but as I’m living proof, it’s one hell of a place to start.

And if this tingles something inside you that wants to travel all for yourself, I’ve got your back. Join me in the Solo Travel Sisterhood, a free, supportive, good-vibes community for women who feel the pull of the world and are working up the courage, confidence, and plan to answer it. You don’t have to book anything today. You just have to show up.

Join the Solo Travel Sisterhood

If I could say one thing to “2016 Megan” it would be THANK YOU for taking that first trip to Iceland…against the fear, against the judgment, against the odds. What a badass.

So, where’s your version of Iceland? Tell me the place that keeps calling you that you haven’t answered yet. 👇

Welcome to Belong to Where You Are Podcast, the show for women who feel the pull of the world and go anyway, passport in hand, plans loosely held, and bags probably over the weight limit.

Each episode, host Megan sits down with solo traveling women to talk about the leap: learning to love a table for one, the 3 a.m. “what the F am I doing?” moments, and the strangers who become lifelong friends. You’ll also hear from real-life experts on solo travel safety, trip planning, and the confidence it takes to travel alone for the first time.

What’s coming:

✈️ Tuesday, October 13: Episodes 1 and 2 drop together

• Episode 1: Meet Megan, and hear how eight solo trips, fifteen-plus countries, and forty-four states taught her that the silver lining is usually just a plane ride away

• Episode 2: Solo travel safety with top security expert Robin Nagele

After that, new episodes arrive every Tuesday.

Don’t miss a stamp: Follow Belong to Where You Are on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, and turn on notifications so the double launch shows up in your feed.

Then go book that ticket. 🧭

Follow Megan & Belong to Where You Are:

Solo Travel Sisterhood (free community)

Substack: belongtowhereyouare.com

TikTok: @belongtowhereyouare

Instagram: @belongtowhereyouare_

But alas, here I am in 2026, a completely different version of myself with an even bigger burning desire to see the world - an…

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I closed my eyes and let out a deep, frustrated sigh. The fucking world at war. Again. And I’m not even in my own home.

Even though it seemed like a glorified email list (and maybe what conspiracy theorists would call the government spying on you), receiving those STEP alerts kept my mind from spiraling. They knew where I was.

Rewind to March 2023: I was approaching my long-awaited, post-divorce solo trip to Portugal. And my to-do list seemed absolutely never-ending.

I was just weeks away from leaving. Eventually, my list dwindled while my anxiety levels rose. Being away from home for this long was foreign territory for me…literally.

What if I got sick? What if my wallet got lost or stolen? What if there was a terrorist attack? Does Portugal get hurricanes? (spoken like a true Floridian)

My mind was racing with all the doomsday scenarios. One night, I found myself doing some doomscrolling on TikTok to avoid a downward mental spiral. Thankfully, I came across a post that made me feel instantly dumber AND made me a smarter solo traveler all at the same time. In that video that the algorithm so kindly blessed me with, I learned about the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

I secretly felt so stupid that I hadn’t known about this program before, and I can’t tell you the number of times I had traveled out of the U.S. without opting in to it. When I was freshly divorced and needing to take care of pretty critical things like updating my emergency contact info and leaving my travel itinerary with trusted family members, there really wasn’t an excuse to whiff.

Turns out I wasn't alone. Most women I talk to have never heard of it either.

From that moment on, I’ve never forgotten to enroll in STEP for each of my solo trips abroad. There’s only been ONE time I’ve almost slipped up and forgotten to enroll. In May 2025, I was heading to Panama City, Panama, and almost missed my flight because of an accident on the way to the airport. While sweating out the clock in my Uber, my brain was quietly screaming at me that I had forgotten to do something. And it was that. Fortunately, I made my flight (barely), got enrolled after I arrived at my Airbnb in Panama City, and could finally move on to way more fun things like booking my tour to see the Panama Canal.

See, even the most seasoned traveler fucks up sometimes.

No matter how busy I get, how long my to-do list is, or how far I’m going, it will always be a top priority.

The truth is, nobody's sitting next to you to notice if something's off. And no one back home is tracking your every move (well, hopefully!). When you’re on your own with no partner or friend to have your back, you need to build your own safety net on purpose.

Back then, I felt so embarrassed that I had spent weeks sweating over mundane pre-trip to-do tasks like making a last-minute hair appointment and obsessing over my bag weight. Yet, the thing that actually mattered took one TikTok and a quick 5-minute form. We tend to obsess over the vanity shit you see on Instagram, which truly isn’t important, and skip the boring thing that could keep us safer.

That’s why every woman traveling solo to another country should enroll in STEP. Every trip. No excuses.

And if you ever find yourself in a pickle in a foreign country, the State Department has 24/7 numbers for Americans who need help: +1-202-501-4444 from abroad and +1-888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada.

After that afternoon in Porto, I decided to quit making fun of the old clichés like “better safe than sorry”… and then quickly switched from a café to a glass of Vinho Verde.

So be honest: have you ever left the country without enrolling?

So when I tell you that my conversations can get a little spirited after a few, my thoughts and opinions on the biggest blockers to solo traveling certainly aren’t excluded. They might even get as strong as my martinis.

No one ever wants to hear a harsh, big-sister-esque truth. But as I write this (totally sober, I might add), here’s my brutally honest take on why most women won’t start solo traveling, even though there’s a deep, burning desire to pack up and go.

💥 The Truth Bombs:

💣 You’re internalizing the bullshit you hear and read online that puts your nervous system in a tailspin.

💣 You’re fighting like hell to shield yourself from judgment you’ll get from friends and family (even though, ironically, they’re not the ones living your life).

💣 You’re running from the discomfort of actually spending time with yourself and your own thoughts.

💣 You’re buying into the fear of stepping out of your comfort zone.

💣 You’re unwilling to actually go see the world and get out of your own zip code.

💣 You lack the belief in yourself that you could ever do something like that.

💣 You’re self-sabotaging and putting your perceived priorities at the top of your list when the whole time YOU and your dreams should be your own top priority.

Does that sound a little harsh? Probably. But I say it from a place of tough love because you deserve to have amazing life experiences. And solo travel can deliver.

Look, we can be our own worst enemies sometimes. Our brains play funny tricks on us and make us think that everything is terrible and horrible and the world sucks and is scary. The funny thing is that when I solo travel, I find that this is the exact opposite. Actually, the world can be pretty cool, and people are genuinely kind.

Certainly solo travel isn’t for everyone. It can be challenging and uncomfortable and frustrating and lonely. And God forbid we as women should do anything for ourselves, as society has screamed to us our whole lives.

But let me tell you something. For me, absolutely no feeling of discomfort has ever outweighed the feelings of joy, awe, pride, and freedom after I go on a solo trip. It’s liberating, exciting, mentally stimulating, and the experience makes for the BEST stories (just ask my friends when I spill the dirt over drinks 😬).

No silver bullet will make you ready to pack your bags and jet off to a foreign country all by yourself. But here are a few things I’ve found to be helpful:

💪 How to Build Your Solo Travel Bravery Muscle:

✅ Practice discernment with the precision of a ninja. Filter the shit out of negativity you read/hear online and other people’s opinions from your mind.

✅ Begin with the end in mind. Close your eyes and imagine sipping wine in Italy, snorkeling between two tectonic plates in Iceland, or eating a pastel de nata in Portugal. Feel the feeling of joy and excitement.

✅ Build a vision board and use it as a daily reminder of where you want to go.

✅ Start small and work your way up. Take a trip to a little town in your area for the day. Or drive one state over. Or take a quick two-hour domestic flight to a city you’ve always wanted to visit. Solo travel doesn’t require you to leave the country (although if you’re called to, go for it!)

✅ Find a community of like-minded, aspiring solo travelers and get support, encouragement, and resources there (like The Solo Travel Sisterhood - a free community I founded!)

🎬 My Last Take:

Remember that this is YOUR life, sister. Put on your big girl panties and go for it. Take the leap. Jump off the f’cking diving board already.

You will NEVER regret investing in seeing the world and doing something cool for yourself.

Money comes back. Time doesn’t. Book the trip.

And think of me when you’re sipping on a martini from afar. 🍸

You got this.

Your bossy (but loving) big sister in solo travel,
Meg

Belong to Where You Are is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

My last post was in late 2024, and I was sharing about my stint in New Mexico and Texas. Yikes.

Needless to say, I’m not there anymore.

Since lots of life has happened in between then and now, here’s the TL; DR timeline to catch you up.

• June 2024: While I was in Seattle, I put an offer in (sight unseen) on a lovely townhouse just down the street from my old apartment. Ballsy? Yes. Worth it? Also, yes. I love my new home. ❤️

• July 6, 2024: I completed my 3-month U.S. road trip. Over 11k miles were driven. I look back and still can’t believe I did it, but wow, what an incredible experience. We live in such a beautiful country…it’s hard to put into words.

• August - October 2024: Just months after I closed on my townhouse, we were hit with a tropical storm and two major hurricanes. I was very fortunate and didn’t have any major damage to my house (only power outages that lasted less than 24 hours).

• March 2025: My role at JOANN sadly ended, as the company closed. What a run. I built a $100M+ affiliate marketing program during my tenure, made so many friends, and learned more than I could ever imagine. I still greatly miss my employee discount. Fortunately, I landed another gig at General Assembly before the company officially shut down, so the timing couldn’t have been better.

• May 2025: I finally took my trip to Panama City, Panama 🇵🇦, that had been my planned destination for the Spring. But with the job situation being up in the air, I delayed it just a bit. I was in Panama City for about two weeks, and it was incredible. I’ll share more about it in another post.

• October 2025: Quick 36-hour trip to Key West 🌴 — another new destination!

• January 2026: The entire Weinheimer clan jetted off to Oahu and Maui for our parents’ 50th wedding anniversary (State #44 for me!). 🌺 We all had a blast, and it turns out my niece and nephew have quite the knack for boogie-boarding!

• February / March 2026: Off to Spain and back to Portugal 🇪🇸 🇵🇹! My two-month stint included visits to Barcelona, Mallorca, Valencia, Malaga, Porto, Costa Nova/Aveiro, and Lisbon. It was pure heaven, and I definitely didn’t want to come home.

• June 2026: Bye-bye General Assembly. Layoff #2 in two years. Ugh.

• August 2026: A birthday trip to Zurich and Milan.🇨🇭🇮🇹 It was a much-needed change of scenery, and I had a blast!

• Present: figuring out what’s next. I taught throughout the summer at St. Bonaventure University (13 years and counting!) and continued working with clients in a fractional marketing consulting capacity.

So back I go to the blank space of rebuilding again. The cycle that always winds up on repeat. But as the fabulous Liz Gilbert once reminded a crowd of eager-to-learn-her-ways women back in 2024, “you learn far more about yourself and grow in the midst of having the rug ripped out from under you.”

Growth doesn’t have to be enjoyable — and good thing because I sure as hell don’t enjoy it. But the silver lining is that I’ve been working under the radar to breathe life back into my solo travel content—and I've been loving it!

1. 🎙️ I’m thrilled to announce The Belong to Where You Are Podcast is launching on Tuesday, October 13, with the trailer coming out Thursday, October 8. What does a security expert, shark diver, creative entrepreneur, and Camino pilgrim have in common? Tune in here on Substack to find out.
   

2. The Substack is BACK! I’ve recently joined a very fun 30-Day Substack Challenge with other incredible writers to breathe life into the platform and share our experiences with the world through long-form content. I miss writing and I’m pumped to get back into it.

3. 📖 But wait, there’s more! After a very, very slow process (like 2.5 years in the making), I’m finally writing a book. BELONG TO WHERE YOU ARE:

   A Journey of Solo Travel, Self-Discovery, and Starting Over, coming out in early 2027. I’ve dragged my feet long enough, so now it’s time to give it a deadline. So please, hold my sorry ass accountable!

If I know one thing about myself, it’s this. The magic breaks out in the moments of challenge and uncertainty. I can’t wait to use my voice and share more of “me” with the world.

Love & Light,
Meg

P.S. — If you’ve hung around as a subscriber for the last 2.5 years…THANK YOU! ❤️

️
There’s a paradigm that we fall into as we approach mid-life. Our reality isn’t even remotely close to what we envisioned. It throws us through twists and turns, highs and lows. It can be both cruel and kind. We know that there are more days behind us than ahead of us. But it’s all ours, and we have the singular choice to either wither into obscurity or say “fuck it” and thrive. I’ll give you one guess which one I’m choosing. 😜

Even when the path is hard to see, understand, and filled with uncertainty, I’m proud of who I am, what I’ve overcome, and who I’m becoming. And that in itself grounds me. I’m learning some very hard lessons in trust and patience, but I know that I’m going to have to learn them — even if I have to do it kicking and screaming. And knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t want it any other way or have any different kind of a life. Growth is hard, but stagnation is far worse.

What I am certain of is that I have so many people, near and far, who love me. I’m one very lucky girl. That, and we live in a magnificently beautiful world, and I hope that my travels have inspired you to go see more of it (even if it means going alone!).

I’m grateful for every year I’ve been given. And if you’re a part of my world — thank you for being in it. ❤️ 45, LFG!

Lots of love and light,
Meg

In this post, you’ll learn about two more national parks I got to visit — Guadalupe Mountains & White Sands National Park. For those keeping score at home, they were my 3rd and 4th national parks along my trip, joining Hot Springs and Carlsbad Caverns National Parks.

Guadalupe Mountains NP, which is actually back in Texas, was only about 30 minutes from Carlsbad Caverns so I decided to visit both in the same day. I won’t bury the lead — this definitely was my least favorite park. It was “Texas pretty” if you get my drift. But it was easy to get in and out and had some cool historical places like Pinery Station, which was part of the Butterfield Overland Route — the first mail route from St. Louis to San Francisco. A very fitting place to write a postcard to my niece and nephew! The park is also home to the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak. Even though I was a little underwhelmed, I’m still glad I stopped and saw it!

The next stop was over to Las Cruces, back over in New Mexico. Now, I’ve traveled plenty of rural roads in my life. But the road from Guadalupe Mountains to El Paso was de-so-late. Like no gas station for 70 miles, SOS on the cell, and more flat, dusty land that you would ever see in your life. I made a habit of not letting my gas tank go below half, especially when I was out west, and it served me well. I was thrilled to get back to civilization in El Paso!

I chose to stay in Las Cruces, NM because it was close-ish to my 5th national park, White Sands. Las Cruces was a cute little town with vibrant murals and a few bars, restaurants, and coffee shops. My Airbnb wasn’t too far from the main drag so everything was in walking distance.

About an hour away was White Sands National Park, a place I’ve known about and wanted to visit for a LONG time. Back in 1995, the R&B group Boyz II Men filmed the video for their song Water Runs Dry at White Sands National Park. I have no idea why but I’ve always been so intrigued by WSNP so I had to make it happen. The park is located near Holloman Air Force Base and within White Sands Missile Base — super safe right?? 😳

It did NOT disappoint and 13-year-old Megan was geeking out! Most of the park was actually closed due to a fighter jet crashing in the park a few days before but I was able to enjoy the dunes that were open. Just like being at the beach with no water. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I loved it so much — it reminded me of home. I was able to do a “sand angel” and there were even people using sleds to slide down the dunes (though it didn’t look like they were having much success).

After I was done basking in the sand, I ventured out to a little town called Cloudcroft (elevation 8,670) that had been recommended. The drive up was ah-mazing! I had lunch at Cloudcroft Brewing Co., a little brewery and pizza place, and also stopped for an epic view from Lincoln National Forest.

So far, I was loving the Land of Enchantment yet still had three more stops to go — Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Four Corners and Gallup. And on May 6, I had officially hit my first 3,000 miles.

Love and light,

MW

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Needless to say, I’m still not in OKC nor did I fall off the face of the earth! The last five months have been a whirlwind — actually more like a good ole’ Oklahoma tornado or Florida hurricane.

I vastly underestimated the amount of time it was going to take to drive, explore, work and write. Turns out, I only had enough time and energy to do three. It was extremely important to me to continue and then eventually finish out this trip by living in the moment, staying safe on the road, and also staying employed so I could continue funding this whacky excursion. Just one of many learning lessons I discovered along the way I suppose. But I think that revisiting my trip now that I’ve had a chance to catch my breath and reflect will give me so much more retrospect and make the story even better for my extremely patient readers — a silver lining. Thank you in advance for understanding and I hope this explains my radio silence!

So before I continue on, just a quick life update. I’m back on Florida’s Gulf Coast, just a short 5-6 blocks from where I used to live. My city and zip code are different but how ironic that I drove over 11,000 miles all over the damn country and wound up right back where I started. Guess all roads really do lead back home. I’m the proud new owner of an awesome townhouse that I’ve been settling into since late July. I’ll share more about that story later on but I absolutely love my new place and finally have a home to call my own.

Amarillo, TX was where I last left you. I honestly can’t comprehend just how huge the state of Texas is — and I drove through the smallest part! My next stop was Carlsbad, NM where I’d be visiting Carlsbad Caverns National Park. The hours and hours of driving through west Texas and countless miles of brownfields and oil rigs definitely numbed the brain a bit.

But I finally made it to Carlsbad — not a lot going on in the town with the exception of the national park crowd (that I became an official part of) and oil field workers. My great-grandfather was born in Carlsbad in the late 1800s, before New Mexico was even a state, so it was kinda cool to go back and see the place where he was born. His father and uncles were merchants in Binghamton, NY and ended up out in Eddy Co., NM because his father contracted tuberculosis and needed to be in a more arid climate. From what we understand, they set up their businesses out in Carlsbad but eventually returned back to NY at the turn of the century.

So if you haven’t heard about the Carlsbad Caverns, it consists of around 119 caves—formed 265 million years ago when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone leaving behind caverns of all sizes. After getting some info from a local bartender the night before (best travels sources ever), I had two options to get down to the caverns. I could either take an elevator down 750 feet to the bottom or take a steep, 1.25-mile hike down through the cave’s natural entrance.

Since I was visiting Guadalupe Mountains National Park that same day (only 20 minutes away), I opted to save some time and my legs and take the elevator.

I guess I really didn’t know what to expect but this place absolutely blew me away! Safe to say, it was the most unique park I visited on my entire trip. It was like a hidden underworld, with stunning rock formations, pools of cave water and a very walkable trail that went on for miles. And my photos simply do not do it justice.

So you can image how pissed I was to read that some dipshit dumped a bag of Cheetos and damaged the cave’s ecosystem. If Cheeto-gate doesn’t ruin it for everyone, please add this park to your travel list — it’s a must-see and made my top 5 of favorite places!

It’s also worth noting that I made a travel bucket list back in 2013 — and New Mexico was on the list. The feeling of checking it off list was really cool. Come to find out, I’d check off three more bucket list places before my trip would conclude. I hope I never stop surprising myself. :)

Until next time in the very near future and definitely not five months later…grateful for your patience and willingness to still learn about my travels!

Love and light,

MW

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Hope wherever you are in the world that Spring has finally arrived!

The next stops on my trip were to Oklahoma City, OK and Amarillo, TX. I was excited to cross over to Oklahoma and check another state off of my list (I’m now 35/50).

Many people were surprised when I said I was stopping by OKC — and honestly, it was one of the cities I was most excited to visit. First off, one of my favorite breweries is based there (Prairie Artisan Ales which I’ll share a bit more about below) and I had heard good things in general about OKC.

When I got to town, I knew the first thing I needed/wanted to see was the Oklahoma City National Memorial. I know it sounds depressing and morbid, but it’s one of those places, like the 9/11 Memorial and Pearl Harbor, that as an American, you need to see and pay respects to. And also, it’s a place I have an indirect tie to.

On that fateful day in April 1995, most of us recall the horrors of the OKC bombing. Even I as a 7th grader remember our teachers telling us what happened and subsequently seeing the images of the bloodied and battered victims and survivors on the news for weeks and months to come. Such an incredibly heartbreaking day for the people of OKC and our nation.

Fast forward to May 2001, after I finished my freshman year at Indiana State, members of the media flocked to Terre Haute, Indiana where the execution of Timothy McVeigh was going to take place. Nearly all of the major news outlets recruited students from ISU to help out with the on-site production. So there I was at 19 working for NBC News. It was an incredible experience and one that I’ll never forget (here are some pics that were taken on-site below… including one of me and NBC journalist David Bloom, who sadly passed away in 2003 in Iraq)

During that time, I heard the reporters share the narrative over and over again about the victims and the devastation that took place in OKC. But being so far away, you can’t fully grasp the loss of life and destruction. I know I didn’t — until now.

The memorial was so harrowing yet a beautiful tribute to the victims and survivors. I think the hardest thing to see was the rows of chairs (especially the small ones in honor of the children killed in the bombing). There was a memorial run that weekend and several runners were leaving their bibs on the chair in memory of the person who had passed. It’s hard not to shed a tear when you’re there but I highly recommend visiting if you’re able to.

I will say after exploring OKC, it reminded me a LOT of Indy! Great bars (including a fabulous rooftop bar called Obar at the Ambassador Hotel), breweries, restaurants, and lots of things to do including museums, sporting events, and concerts. I went to the downtown Arts Festival that weekend and got tickets to a Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors concert (where it was revealed that I had come from the furthest away!).

Then off to my crown jewel of breweries — Prairie Artisan Ales. I first picked up their Rainbow Sherbet Sour at Luekens in Dunedin (loved it) and then fell for their holiday Seasick Crocodile. If you’re into sours, you’ve got to try their stuff! I was so excited to visit the mothership — and the best part about traveling by car is that I could take some beers I can’t get at home with me on the road. :)

The area I loved the most in OKC was the Bricktown district. It’s home to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (voted one of the best ballparks in AAA), Bricktown Brewery, the Bricktown Water Taxi, and more. It reminded me a LOT of the White River area in Indy (maybe that’s why I loved it so much!).

Overall, I loved OKC — but my only complaint was that I didn’t think the people there were that friendly. They were nice enough but just not super warm.

Next stop was on to Amarillo. This was more of a low-key stop to catch my breath for a minute. Not a ton going on in Amarillo but the Route 66 stuff was neat, along with Cadillac Ranch, a collection of ten old buried Cadillacs that are now graffitied sculptures.

My next stops will take me further out west and take in some sights I’ve been really looking forward to seeing. :) As always, thank you for going on this journey with me!

Love and light,
MW

Well, I’ve been on the road for over a month now (time flies!) and needless to say, I’m traveling at a much faster pace than I’m writing. But that’s ok — I’m going at my own pace and still trying to find that happy balance between exploring, working, and resting.

Next stop was Little Rock, Arkansas.

I know what you’re thinking. WTF, Megan —Arkansas?? That’s the land of 20-whatever Kids and Counting, Walmart, and probably a ton of other stereotypes that I really don’t need to mention.

And to be completely honest, I had them too.

The Natural State really surprised me. Not only is it a REALLY pretty state, nestled in the Ozarks, Little Rock was actually a pretty cool town. I stayed in the SOMA area (South Main) which had really cute shops, restaurants, bars, and only one of two Purse Museums in the world (the other is in South Korea)! It was so neat to walk through and see all of the vintage handbags and accessories from the early 1900s to the 1990s. Although I did take a bit of offense when I saw the Rainbow Brite purse in the 80s case. Ugh.

Little Rock was definitely a low-key stop but I really enjoyed my time there!

One of the fun parts about meeting people in different cities is that you get the BEST recommendations. I’ve planned only my route and probably very little else. I was in the cutest shop, Pink Olive, getting my niece and nephew their postcard. The woman working told me I HAD to stop by Hot Springs and go to the Buckstaff Bathhouse.

For a little context, Hot Springs was the place to be at the turn of the century because of the healing properties of the mineral water in the 6 million-year-old hot springs. Bathouses popped up all over "Bathhouse Row” for specifically baseball players wanting to cure their “ailments” (mostly due to heavy drinking) and the hot mineral water was thought to have “boiled” out their impurities. [too easy, not going there. 🤣]

So off to Buckstaff I went — and it was quite an experience! I couldn’t take more photos for obvious reasons but for $40 the hot treatments felt great, especially after all of the driving I’d been doing. After I detoxed, I went and retoxed with a flight at Superior Bathhouse Brewery. The brewery, which is in an old converted bathhouse, uses the mineral water to make their beers. And I have to say, even up to this point in my trip, it’s been my favorite brewery thus far!

So in the words of Chris Stapleton’s song Arkansas “If you wanna get down, gotta get down to Arkansas.” It may just surprise the hell out of you, like it did me!

Next stop… OKC!

Love and light,
MW

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After my epic stop in Asheville, it was time to start heading west (and also catch up on my rest!). My next stop was the Country Music Capital of the World, Nashville, TN. I’ve driven through Nashville plenty of times with my family when we would drive to Florida but had never visited as an adult.

My first stop was at the iconic Bluebird Cafe for my niece, Avery. When I told her that I was stopping by Nashville her first question was “Aunt Meg, are you going to the Bluebird Cafe? That’s where Taylor Swift played!” So I couldn’t let my Swiftie-loving girl down. Even though I got there way before they opened, I STILL didn’t get in for open mic night. Ugh, fail. But I think Aves still got a kick out of the quick video I sent her from her requested location.

Next was heading down to Broadway, home of the honkey tonks. I stopped by Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Acme Feed & Seed, Friends in Low Places (Garth Brooks’ bar) and Rippy’s. It was cool to see but I think if you go you need to really, really, really like country music and really, really, really like to get shitfaced. I like country music but I don’t love it. And getting shitfaced…well, I still had to work that week. So there’s that.

Speaking of, I did discover the art of working at bars! Usually, coffee shops are my jam but I was able to get some work done at YeeHaw Brewing Company / White Duck Taco Shop and Hopsmith Nashville. Both were awesome spots and workday-approved.

Overall, I’ve got to admit, I didn’t love Nashville and think it’s overhyped. I think it’s got an identity conflict — it wants to be old school and original country but also new and trendy. Can’t make up its mind. And it was LOUD everywhere from the construction to the coffee houses. I didn’t hate Nashville but I didn’t love it either. But nonetheless, I’m glad I stopped and found this out for myself! The whole point of traveling right?

Next up was an overnight stop in Memphis. Admittedly, I really misjudged the Home of the Blues. I hadn’t heard great things and almost drove past it. Honestly, I wish I would have spent one less day in Nashville and one more in Memphis. First off, the people in Memphis were SO nice! I stayed downtown at the Hu Hotel, which had an incredible rooftop bar that overlooked the Mighty Mississippi. The sunset was gorgeous and rivaled the ones in Florida (almost!).

The next day, I had some work meetings in the morning but luckily had a late checkout. Before I left town, I knew I had to check out the iconic Beale Street. It did NOT disappoint! Beale Street was so authentic and just had an awesome vibe to it. I would have loved to stop in some of the clubs when the live music was going but unfortunately, I had to move on. But I would definitely visit Memphis again, even just for a day or two.

So far, the travels have been pretty smooth! My car is hanging in there like the badass she is. I’m getting more into a groove of working, driving, and exploring — even if it means taking meetings at a gas station parking lot or a random Subway (thank God for my cell hotspot!). That’s the beauty of being a digital nomad / remote worker — I just need my laptop, internet, and a power outlet and the world is my oyster. :)

Next up is the Natural State of Arkansas!

Love and light,
MW

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I can’t believe it’s been almost three weeks since I’ve been on the move. Florida feels a million miles away and so far the travels have been smooth and uneventful. Still trying to get into the groove of balancing work, exploring, and driving but I’m doing the best I can to figure it out.

So onto Stop #3: Asheville, NC. Before visiting, I had heard nothing but great things about this quirky little town. Now I know exactly why!

But before I dive in, here’s a little backstory for you — and why travel is the ultimate connector of people. Last year when I was traveling in Porto, Portugal with my friends Ann and Paula (the PortuGALS) and I went on a wine tour of the Douro Valley. On that tour, we met Glen and Chuck, who lived in Asheville. As you can see from the photos below, it didn’t take us long to become friends with the wine-loving group!

I kept in touch with Glen and Chuck (a la Instagram) and while I was planning my road trip, I reached out to let them know I’d be stopping in Asheville.

And that’s where the magic begins.

All weekend was pretty much the “Glen and Megan Show.” (Chuck was out of town for work). We hit up the town and lived our BEST life! We may have even snuck into a rooftop bar grand opening and snapped a few pics with a fox mascot head (and also may have gotten busted by Mr. Foxman himself, who wasn’t amused with our antics). 🤣 Needless to say, there was absolutely zero lack of fun.

I made a stop at the revered Biltmore Estate, which was so gorgeous. The home was astonishing and the gardens were immaculate. I loved the solarium and now want to have one of my own someday. Major inspo! And the winery was also so stunning. The long tunnel into the tasting room was so cool!

The one thing that Asheville doesn’t lack are bars, craft breweries, and restaurants. And as the unofficial ambassador of Asheville, Glen took me to all the best spots. Green Man Brewery, Burial Brewery, Antedote, and The Times, just to name a few.

We were just getting ready to wrap up our weekend of fun but were inspired to stop by The Orange Peel, a local music venture, and see what band was playing that night. Well, none other than The Wallflowers — which made these two old millennials waaay too excited. To top it off, even though it was a sold-out show, we got in for free (two other people had their tickets scanned but had to leave). Boom!

This is why I love to travel so much. The incredible people you meet unexpectedly, the experiences that you ordinarily wouldn’t have, and the massive amounts of FUN you have along the way.

A MILLION thank yous to Glen for showing this girl a phenomenal time! Truly, this trip was magical because of his kindness and hospitality. I told him he needs to start an Asheville tour company - 10/10 would recommend!!

I’ll most definitely be seeing Asheville again soon! ✨

Love and light,
MW

My trip has officially launched! After getting my Highlander all packed up, putting a few more things in storage, and saying my “see ya laters” to my friends, it was finally time to hit the road.

I decided to shave off some driving time on Saturday and drive up to Jacksonville, FL, and stay the night on Friday evening. Really good decision! The next morning, I drove to Savannah where I went for a delicious brunch at Husk Savannah (thanks for the recco Carrie!) and to walk around for a bit. My big goal for this trip is to visit places I’ve never been before, but I made an exception for Savannah. It’s a stunning city and since I was driving right by it, I had to make a quick stop.

My first official stop was Charleston, SC. I’ve flown into Charleston for family visits but have never actually spent time in the city. The city is very old and rich in American history – and very rich monetarily as well, with both old and new money. The colonial buildings and cobblestone streets give the city such amazing character and the food scene is incredible. I stayed at a hostel in Charleston and while the building was old and just ok, my roommates, Sarah, Lily, and Jenn, were so sweet and I had a good time chatting with them on the old second-floor porch.

Two of my favorite places that I ate at were Chasing Sage and Poogan’s Porch (thanks for the recco Kim!). Next door to Chasing Sage was a really cool tap room called the Guilded Horn, where I met some nice people from New Jersey and Connecticut, all of whom worked in marketing, and a very cool bartender named Hannah. Meeting new people is by far my favorite thing about traveling. You hear other people’s stories, where they’re from, why they’re passing by, etc. and it just fascinates me. Good thing I’m not an introvert! Charleston was cool and I’m glad I made the visit — but decided I’m not Southern, civilized or rich enough for this town. LOL!

After my first weekend on the road in Charleston, I headed to stop number two, Wilmington, NC - but not before making a quick stop in Myrtle Beach, SC for lunch with my cousin Kyle! I’m so glad we got to reconnect and share a meal - thanks Cuz! :)

Wilmington wasn’t originally on my list of stops. But when I hear multiple people speak highly about a place, that’s a sign I need to go.

Wilmington was SUCH a cute town with a chill vibe without being too edgy or pretentious. Great restaurants, coffee shops, and bars— all very walkable. The riverfront area was also fantastic. My Airbnb host, Lindsey, was so awesome

On a work note, I even got to meet a new member of our ad agency team, Riley, who’s based in Wilmington. We had a great time going to a few spots she recommended.

Wilmington is such a great town and I really enjoyed my time there! Hope you will put it on your travel list someday. :)

Overall, the travels have gone pretty smoothly! My driving pace was a bit on the aggressive side (over 1,000 miles less than a week) and was a little tricky juggling work with check-out/drive times. But I’m making it work the best I can. All I can do is learn, give myself grace, and listen to my mind/body to know when I need a little extra rest.

Stop number three took me to Asheville, NC — and this place deserves a post of its own. Stay tuned!

Love and light,
MW

I’m also so incredibly grateful for all of the amazing friends I made at “The Commons” and memories that we all had together. From pool shenanigans to pre-golf cart parade parties and everything in between, they all made this a special place to live. I love you all so much!

My girls Ann, Erica, Paula and Kimm also had a big surprise for me on our last Wine Wednesday together for a while — an infinite amount of travel supplies! I told them if all else fails, I can run a roadside convenience store out of the back of my car! They were so sweet to think of me and make sure I was well-prepared for my trip. ❤️

I love my Florida life, my golf cart, the sunshine, and my friends who are like family. But now it’s time to step away for a little bit, spread my wings, and see more of our beautiful country. By the time my trip concludes (if all goes to plan) I’ll have visited all but three states — with Alaska, Hawaii and Connecticut remaining (CT whaaa??? So random, I know.).

So wish me luck and hope you’ll follow along! Mile zero starts in 3…2…1.

Love and light,

MW

I can’t believe it’s been a year since I set off on my Portuguese adventure. Not going to lie, there are days when I’d kill for a tasty glass of Vinho Verde along with a cod dish with fresh bread and olive oil. Ah, foodie heaven.

Since I posted last, I’ve added two new stamps to my passport having visited Germany in November and Costa Rica just last month. I’ve got a highlight rewind in the works for both trips that I’ll post later, not to bury the lead with my next adventure!

So here it goes…

Since my trip to Portugal, I’ve been feeling an unsettling restless and the need for a change. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life very much here in Dunedin along with my friends, the sunshine, and my golf cart. When I was recovering from gallbladder surgery this summer/fall, the pull for a change started screaming at me pretty loudly. Until the idea of a cross-country road trip hit me poolside like a ton of bricks — and I knew I had to follow my intuition. As many moments of joy and amazing memories I’ve had and continue to have here, Dunedin also represents a very painful time in my life that can, at times, be really difficult to continue healing/recovering from. But I’m doing my best. :)

So off I go in mid-April across the U.S.! I’m so excited to visit states and cities, I’ve never been to (so far, I’m at 32/50 states). The golf cart will remain in excellent care until I return (thank you Greg and Ann!). And of course, I’ll write about the cities I’ll visit, cool things I get to do, favorite booze and brews spots, and the challenges I’m certain I’ll face along the way. The first leg of my trip will take me from Florida up through the Carolinas out to Arizona, with many fun stops planned in between. Hope you’ll join me along the way!

Also, I’ve renamed my publication Belong To Where You Are…for a very fitting reason.

I’ve found home in a to-die-for slice of New York-style pizza on the Jersey Shore. I’ve found home planting flowers and my vegetable garden at my house in Lancaster, NY in the springtime. I’ve found home screaming my head off during a Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy. I’ve found home driving my beloved golf cart around on a gorgeous, sunny day in Dunedin, FL. I’ve found home as I meander through the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute. I’ve found home walking the Lake Ontario waterfront in downtown Toronto. I’ve found home going for drinks with my bestie, Ash, at the local Elks Lodge in my hometown of Sullivan, IN. I’ve found home connecting with and in the presence of such incredible friends — old and new, near and far. And certainly, I’ve found home during the holidays, special occasions, visits, and vacations with my family, no matter what and where we celebrate.

You can belong to more than one place. And who knows? Maybe I’ll belong to another special place I haven’t even been to yet. I’m so excited about the trajectory of my life both personally and professionally and know this adventure is going to be awesome.

More to come! :)

Love and light,
MW

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Needless to say, I’m back in the USA and have been for a few weeks now. Truth be told, I’ve really struggled to find the words to really encapsulate this entire experience and have needed some time to let it sink in. Apologies for the delay.

So let’s rewind back to April 4, shall we?

Originally, I was supposed to fly from Lisbon to Washington, DC, and then onto Indy, to spend Easter with my family, then back to Tampa. In a crazy unexpected turn of events, my flight to DC was delayed causing me to miss my connection to Indy. So instead, I had to connect in Toronto, of all places, then onto Indy – and this was the only viable option to get me to the Hoosier state around the same time.

I had very complicated feelings about returning to Toronto, a city I once considered my second home and loved very much. I hadn’t been back since my old life blew up and never thought I could or would even want to ever go back. The ghosts of my old Toronto life made their presence known as I was navigating the subway in Lisbon and felt the city-going version of myself re-emerge. It stung the heart a little. But the universe is a funny little shit sometimes so I think that diversion was trying to tell me that I could handle it. And as strange as it felt when I arrived, I did.

In the name of self-care, I decided to upgrade my ticket to business class and fly like a priss on the eight-hour flight to Toronto. I had originally covered my original ticket back home with points so I didn’t mind the upgrade charge. Just the lounge access (complete with free food and drinks!) and expedited security line itself were worth every penny. And I could have easily been on that plane another eight hours. It was fabulous.

When we finally arrived in TO, I breezed through U.S. customs to make my flight to Indy (shoutout to Global Entry!). Fortunately, my layover was around two hours so I didn’t have to stay put in the Great White North too long. Plus at that point, my jet lag was starting to set in so I was really getting too tired to give my awkward, kinda-sorta second homecoming too much thought. I just didn’t have the mental energy.

And just like that, I was back home in the USA! My fam and I had a great time over Easter, complete with countless silly face selfies and loads of Portugal souvenirs auntie-style. It was fun teaching Miss A and Mr. E how to give a family toast in Portuguese – “À nossa” meaning “To ours” and show them pics of my trip.

After five days in Indy, it was finally time to head TF HOME! I’ve had a lot of people ask me if I was ready to come home or if I was sad to leave Portugal. The answer is both. I missed my friends, my golf cart, the warm Florida breezes, the epic sunsets, and more. And honestly, I could rattle off a whole list of things I’m missing right now about Portugal. But in the end, I belong here in the Sunshine State… at least for right now.

I want to give a special shoutout to the lovely lady below – my incredible friend and neighbor, Jen. She was the keeper of all things Megan while I was gone, getting my mail, keeping my garage/golf cart keys, starting my car, picking me up from the airport, etc. Thanks to her, I had so much more peace of mind leaving my life behind for a while. She is one of the BEST humans I know and I’m so so lucky she’s in my life!! Love you Jen!

Through it all, I was never scared. Nervous? Yes. Anxious? Yes. Thinking I had lost my mind? Definitely. But never scared. I think when you go through a tremendous amount of shit that you think should kill you, nothing (or very little) scares you.

Even though this experience had been on my heart and mind since 2016 and was a long time in the making, I will never have to wonder what it’s like to travel/work abroad for an extended amount of time. I will never have to wonder if I can survive and thrive with only myself to rely on in another country. I will never have to daydream about it but remember my time there with a full heart and an extraordinary amount of gratitude.

I also want to give you all the biggest, heartfelt “obrigada” for following me along on this adventure. Your comments, messages, and encouragement kept me going and meant the world to me.

So, even though this will certainly not be my last post (I’ll be writing some follow-ups and recommendations), I leave you with this:

In the end, all of us will look back on our lives and say one of two things…

“I wish I had” or “I’m glad I did”.

I am beyond “glad I did”… the question is what can’t I do now? :)

Amor e luz (love and light),
MW

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