Engagement Announcement and Finding Balance

Something very exciting happened over the holiday... I got engaged! 💍 I couldn't be more excited to take this next step with my best friend. It also got me thinking back to myself as a young/mid-20s backpacker. ✈️ ___ If you would have asked me at 21 if I would ever get married, I really didn't think I would. It's not that falling in love didn't sound appealing, but more that I thought I had to choose between a relationship and travel. At the time, there seemed to be no in between. Either you stayed home, got married and proceeded into a life of short annual vacations, or you traveled indefinitely and lived life solo. ❤️🚶‍♀️ ___ Over time -- luckily -- I've learned about balance and compromise. While I don't take four-month backpacking trips anymore, I do still travel almost every month; sometimes weekend getaways and sometimes one-week jaunts. When a really special trip comes up, I'll go longer, like I did last year when I went to India for three weeks. 🌍 ___ It isn't one or the other. Whether your "thing" is travel or something else, when you find the right person you strive to find a rhythm that works. ___ The truth: While many travel bloggers travel full-time or head somewhere for months, I miss New York when I'm gone too much to leave for long. Because while I love the world and exploring all of its corners, I also love my home and the people that make life fun even when we're sitting around doing nothing. 😊 ____ * * *