so there is this other passion of mine. outside of photography. outside of health and fitness. outside of many things….

travel.

anyone who knows me knows i love to travel. it could be a little abandoned town in georgia, a bustling city in new york, or an exotic beach in another country. no matter how big or small, i love to visit and explore new places. i love adventure and not knowing what adventure lies ahead. however, in this last year i have definitely had a rude awakening on what so much travel can do to someone.

being constantlly sleep deprived, feeling scatter-brained, never really unpacking, keeping track of 5 different flights and itineraries simultaneously (yes this happened), stalking flight deals, sleeping in hotel rooms with creepy red lights in the bathroom, getting to the airport and realizing you have no ID (yes that too happened), being interrogated by TSA (they don’t like the whole “no ID” thing apparently), sleeping on the floor of airport lobbies, drinking way too many coffees and red bulls, missing the husband, always carrying everything on (camera gear and personal items) in 1 carry on bag for an entire trip has become my special talent, missing my own bed, eating awesomely amazing food from all over, eating awesomely really bad for you food all over…ice cold beer toasts at the end of a hard work day, always getting used to time changes, never settling in to a real “routine”, forgetting to pack a jacket….to Alaska…(my husband loved me that day), meeting all sorts of people from hardworking kids in Bali to starving artists in New Orleans to amazing vineyard owners in The Hamptons…everyone always has a story.

i looked at my calendar recently from 2012….and that is when i realized. since Jan 2012 (with the exception of the month of March), i have not been home for more than 3 weeks at a time.

wow.

i wasn’t sure if that was awesome that i have been traveling so much, or sad that my life is in constant organized on-the-go chaos.

truthfully, i love it and wouldn’t take even one of those trips back. every hour spend on a road trip, or moment waiting for my next flight has been worth it. overhwhelmingly so. as i was looking at my 2012 calendar i realized that my 2013 is shaping up to be the same. i have travel plans to Atlanta in january, a colombia trip in february, england in april, texas in may….and so it goes….

and though i am hoping that i do get some more time at home in 2013- time to settle in to the house, a routine, normal healthy meals and fitness routines, and my own bed- i still feel excited to have these opportunities in my future. it’s one of the main reasons i started photography in the first place. i wanted a job that enabled me to travel the world- and i have to say that being a photographer has done wonders for filling that part of my soul.