It is quite common for us to sometimes fantasise about buying a one-way ticket somewhere one day and when we see someone doing it, we kind of envy it sometimes because it feels like it’s such a wild thing to do that could not fit our daily lives. We have a job, we have responsibilities that allows us to travel somewhere but requires a date for your return. What a dream it would be to be able to just go and decide when you want to come whenever you feel like it.

Well, in May of 2024, that dream ceased being just that. I bought a one-way ticket to Bolivia, not knowing exactly when I would be back or where I would be coming back from. I had an idea. I wanted to be back in time for Christmas and I would probably be somewhere in Brazil, but it’s a huge country so, who could guess my whereabouts at that time?

After a bit over 5 months, we were heading to our last country, Brazil, and we were pretty sure where we would be in December. Time to buy our return tickets.

I don’t think I can describe the amalgamation of feelings that were going through my mind. We looked for prices, decided the date and bought it.

The day after that I couldn’t get myself to feel happy or sad, I was Humpty Dumpty on the fence unable to decide between the happiness of being with my family again, back to my home, to my routine, to my life, and the sadness of knowing all this was coming to an end.

Only after a while, I came to a conclusion. I started to feel more and more at peace with this trip, everything we did and the fact that it is coming to an end. It has been one of the most beautiful journeys I ever set myself on, but it also needs closure. I feel like I fulfilled my dream, my purpose for this adventure and now I know that it is time to go home.

I’m pretty sure I’ll cry when the day comes, I’ll cry when I’m back home remembering places that I’ll never get to see again but I’m happy about that. It is all imprinted in my memory for the rest of my life and I can’t wait to tell it all to my children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces and inspire them all to go for their dreams just like I went for mine.

Now, I can’t wait to go home. Enough of seeing dogs I just thinking of mine and missing him, I want to hug that little furry old pal of mine! Let December come.

XOXO,

Barbara