I am an Adventurer

I have had many adventures in my life. It was a privilege to have retired, young grandparents with intergenerational wealth - otherwise, this may not have been my reality. I’ve explored much of Canada from British Columbia to Manitoba. I’ve been through some of the states, too. I love traveling and plane rides. Normally, I would travel at least a dozen times within the year - even if it was just getting into the car and driving to Whistler for the day.

I love adventure so much that it almost became my career.

A Different path

When I was 30, I went back to school for my Tourism and Hospitality management diploma. The goal was to work in hotels until my kids moved out. After that, I planned to work on cruise ships as a purser. That’s the person who holds onto everybody’s money!

As it turns out, I’m not much of a cruise ship person. BUT, I liked the idea of living a rootless life. I wanted to not have a mailing address. No fixed position. My son is living this way right now and my house is his mailing address. He works all over the world!

What Was and What Can Be

It can be both fun and discouraging to look back at my life and think about what might have been. I aim to choose the fun outlook more than the discouraging one. 

I could choose to make it shitty and think about all the things I missed out on because I was a young mom or because I got divorced when my peers were barely getting married. I can look back at my time as a single mom and feel regret. 

I can also choose to look forward. I can advocate for people who are parents right now and I can make sure no one has to do it unless they want to. Because if I had been able to live the way I felt I needed to in my heart, my kids and I would have disappeared in a camper van and lived anywhere the wind took us. I want that for moms now. The ability to choose. That’s why I paint the joy of being authentic and adventurous.

Redefining “Adventure”

I can’t adventure anymore because my body won’t physically take me there. Now, I adventure in my mind and through my camera lens. Fortunately, I have many photos from my travels to pick from. And I still travel every chance I get. 

Even living in one place for so long is new for me. I’ve lived in my current home since the winter of 2018, and this is the longest I’ve ever lived in one place. 

I have to go on creative adventures, because if I don’t, I’ll go nuts. My art is the only adventure that’s left for me. And that’s fine - I’m good with that. I will always keep my sense of adventure alive by playing, experimenting, and learning new things.