The last few years have been so important to me.
In the beginning of 2009 I decided to make long-term travel a reality but kept the secret to myself for a while.
In 2010, this St. Patrick’s day baby celebrated the big 3-0 in Dublin with great friends. And if that wasn’t fun enough, I really took charge of my 30s by quitting my job just a few weeks later so I could live in Australia for a year.
I welcomed 2011 with a clear view of the fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and got sunburned for the first (and probably only) New Years ever. Following a 2.5 month road trip around Australia, I returned home to the USA in search of a mobile lifestyle, made possible by remote work. By summer’s end, I’d met the man who would soon become my boyfriend, and a flexible work schedule gave us plenty of time to email, talk on the phone, tweet, and Skype.
Now the first week of 2012 has come and gone. And I wonder what will happen in the next 12 months to make this year another “daydream believer” type of year.
The year’s already off to a wonderful start. I spent the last 10 days with my boyfriend, who traveled across the pond for the third time since we met. We celebrated his birthday, spent hours in the kitchen cooking and baking, checked out a college basketball game, visited Richmond and northern Virginia, and spent New Years together.
What are my hopes for the rest of the year?
Regain passion for travel
Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I no longer want to travel. But for the last few months, the travel bug has been dormant. The itch to research a new trip and make plans hasn’t been there. I still want to embark on an lengthy American road trip. Spend months in India. And SE Asia. And revisit Oz. But for now, I’m happy at home (central Virginia) — I just hope the desire to hit the road returns before too long.
I want to see more sunrises and sunsets around the world
Identify and develop 1-2 (sustainable) sources of remote income
I’m fortunate to have a part-time job that offers enough money to pay the bills and enough time to look into freelance and remote work…I just need to do a better job of taking advantage of my “free” time. I already dedicate a few hours each month to remote work, including resume and cover letters reviews and writing articles for HerPackingList.com. This year my goal is to source additional opportunities and move forward with the desire to have a mobile work lifestyle.
Continue exploring interest in cooking and baking
Thanks to my food adventures in Oz, recipe blogs, Pinterest, Foodgawker, and an interest in gluten and dairy free eating, I cooked more in 2011 than I have in my entire life. I have a wish list of dishes I want to make that’s a mile long, and the only thing holding me back from tackling them all is my part-time income. In addition to ingredients for fun recipes, I want to invest in some kitchen tools — several good quality knives and a kitchen torch top the list.
Maple bacon cupcakes with “sunny side up egg” frosting
Learn more about photography and become comfortable operating my camera on Manual
When I invested in a D-SLR before heading to Australia, I knew I eventually wanted to operate it in Manual. Two years later, I’m still avoiding the M setting and wondering why in the world I haven’t made time to practice! I’ve subscribed to a few photography blogs and received a few food photography books for Christmas. By the end of 2012, I want to move away from aperture priority as my go-to setting and feel comfortable and, dare I say it, confident snapping in Manual.
Peach cake from shop in London
Here’s to a new year
Of course in addition to the hopes above, I want to enjoy time with family and friends, live a healthy lifestyle, and see my boyfriend whenever possible.
What’s on your wish list for 2012? Did you create New Year resolutions, challenge yourself to read a certain number of books by year’s end, or take on a physical challenge like a marathon? I didn’t (me run more than 2-3 miles?! surely you jest!), but maybe someone’s kick butt challenge may encourage me to take on another 2012 goal 🙂
Featured image via Flickr creative commons
Twitter Updates
Great article again, love it!
When we run around the gym I’ll try and be more of a pace setter for you, rather than following your butt around the gym 😉
It’s good to set goals, you know what mine are and I hope I can help you achieve your goals, ambitions and dreams.
Love you beautiful :-*
You’ll be a great help — one of the most supportive people I know! Love you back.
If we make it to Virginia, I demand you to cook for us… I mean ask… demand… you know what I mean. <3
I’ll do it in a heart beat!!! I can’t promise anything spectacular (especially when it comes to presentation), but it’ll be fun to try something new and hopefully the taste will make up for anything that doesn’t look pretty.
Seriously, road trip to VA! I’m staying in the US at least for the next 6 months so can we PLEASE meet somewhere in the South? Miss you girl!
If you’re doing a road trip to VA, I’ll be here and ready to meet up! I sent you a message on FB with a couple of questions 🙂
Well, it sounds like we both have a challengey year ahead of us! I’m with you on trying to get my travel mojo back. As I’ve mentioned before on my blog, I’ve also kind of lost the travel feeling. I’m back in Japan at the moment & I’m starting to get it back — I’m even planning a trip by myself to a part of the country I haven’t seen yet. I hope this bodes well for the rest of 2012 because I’d really like to do a lot more traveling this year.
I’m also with you on trying to manage my time better so I can focus on the things that matter to me and (maybe even hopefully) make a little extra income. I’d really like to finish up my job in China this June, do a little traveling & then go home for a bit, but I’m going to need an alternative source of income to do this. But, first, I have to learn to stop frittering all my time on the Facebook!
Well, best of luck to the both of us! I’m sure we can do it. 🙂
P.S. the picture of you & your boyfriend is so cute. I’m so happy you’re happy!
Thanks 🙂
I need to email you again soon and catch up! I’m not sure I’d be able to afford another trip to Buffalo in the summer (I hope to go for the first week of March to see Nicole), but the two of you in one place?! How could I NOT find the money to visit again!!!
Yay! Then you’d have *two* reasons to come to Buffalo – love it! And Sally, maybe you & I can finally meet when you’re back in town. 🙂
I can’t believe you’re back in the USA!! Looking forward to hearing what you hope 2012 has in store for you…so excited to see you soon!
Sounds like 2012 is going to be a GREAT year for you…I can’t wait to read all about it hun…you never know; I may even be a part of it too =D
I hope so! The trip at the end of March will probably be too short and quick to meet, but I’m hoping to be back for longer in the summer *crosses fingers*
Yay for 2012! It’s funny you should mention your travel infection waning – mine just bit again! 🙂
Happy New Year and I can’t wait to hear how awesome this one is going to be for you.
Where are you itching to go? 🙂
2011 was a big year for you, and if I remember correctly, 2012 is the bigger wedding!
I love this… I know for a fact you are going to have a great 2012. It looks like you know what you want out of it and are going to take control of it, but it looks like you are also going to let things just ahppen which i also good. Sometimes things happen when we aren’t busy planning something. On my wish list for 2012 is to continue being happy like I have been in 2011 & living my life on my terms…
Hope you had a great new year~
And right now you are LOVING Turkey and I do hope that you get to go back before you go to SE Asia 🙂 I have no doubt that you are going to be happy this year and LIVE life <3
This is great. As someone who is in a very similar position (my boyfriend lives in the US so I understand what it’s like meeting someone who doesn’t live in the same country!) it’s so nice that you met him whilst you were abroad. I honestly do think we are the best person we can be whilst we’re experiencing new things and doing what we love and that’s probably what attracted him to you in the first place!
Hope 2012 is just as great for you as 2011 was 🙂
It’s always great to talk to someone else who has a significant other who lives overseas!
I do love the version of myself than I am when traveling, and thankfully he still loves when even though I’m now back at home 😉
Looking forward to the beginning of your big adventure this year!
Nice post Heather. Funny how you mentioned about the travel bug being dormant. For some reason Sydney feels very homey to me that I didn’t feel so much the need to explore – well that, and I have got work I have been doing during the week – but same as you, I hope mine will resurface soon, as time will run out and before I know it, it will be home time!
Wishing you a great 2012!
Here’s to 2012 bringing back the bug for both of us 🙂
You can do it! Using your camera on Manual is WAY easier than you expect it will be…and it makes such a huge difference in the control you have over your photos. Totally worth it.
Also, don’t worry about the travel bug being dormant. It’ll come back. You don’t have to force anything, you don’t *have* to feel wanderlust all the time…in fact, I’d say it’s a great thing that you are feeling so happy at home!
I’m really pleased that I’m feeling “at home” at home again. Last summer it was the complete opposite.
I’m eager to get back into manual. May start with food soon or Gav’s next visit. I’ll learn by doing!
I so hear you about the travel bug taking a back seat for a while. I still very much have it and it’s definitely in the back of my mind but for the moment, after a year and a half away I am really enjoying being in Sydney (for the first time ever??) and remaking a home and a life here. I have some travel plans on the horizon for the rest of this year, but none are long term. And I feel a little guilty about that but don’t know why!
I know I’ll do it again some day but for now, I’m happy where I am. And it sounds like you are too and that’s what it’s all about, right?
I’m SO glad I finally feel good about being home. I’m happy you do too 🙂 And I’m VERY happy you’re blogging again. You were missed 🙂