From Globe-Trotter to Homebody

Discovering a New Kind of Adventure at Home

I grew up moving from place to place, first around California State Parks as the daughter of a park ranger, and later throughout Europe as a missionary kid.

Because I’ve visited so many countries, I’ve always thought of myself as a traveler, someone who loves to explore the world and see new sites. As a writer, my dream was to someday be an accomplished travel writer, exploring and documenting the globe.

But as the pandemic narrowed our worlds four years ago, I came to a new realization: I am, in fact, a total homebody.

Having no option but to stay home and hunker down with my people wasn’t the hardship for me that it was for many. Sure, having one kid doing virtual learning while the other one was potty training and I was trying to hold down a job was no walk in the park. On the other hand, walking to the park was about as far as we ventured from home for many months and I was perfectly content.

When I really stopped to reflect, I hadn’t done a whole lot of traveling in years. The busyness of life and raising a family has kept us pretty rooted, and my husband and I have channeled our energy and resources into turning our house into a home we truly love to spend time in. It’s our sanctuary. Our unique little piece of earth we’ve built for our family.

So when I started thinking about exploration, where I wanted to go next, I wasn’t thinking about Fiji or Australia (though I will totally haul out my dusty suitcase if you’re offering). 

Instead, I started thinking about the parts of me I could explore on the page. The ideas I’ve had churning around inside my head for years. The stories I haven’t told. The adventures I’ve yet to write.

Sure, I’d love to take some more trips in the future. I may even write about them and finally check that travel writer dream off my bucket list.

But, for now, I’m entirely content sitting at my cozy little desk, sunlight streaming in through the picture window, coffee in hand, exploring my own head and heart for the stories I have yet to tell.