On the Road to Location Independence

Embracing the Sweet Unknown

I took the plunge. I quit my 9-5, sold my car, stored all of my earthly possessions in my sister’s basement and took a flight to Colombia to study Spanish for the summer. I didn’t know what would come of that one decision but so far, it has lead to getting my documents in order to keep the possibility of moving back to Medellin to teach at a university open. It has also inspired me to start my own travel website and business and travel coast to coast in the US for 41 days.

I am back in Pennsylvania making very little money at the minute but satisfied. I realized that I cannot wait around hoping for circumstances to align so that I can be location independent. I have to make decisions every day that lead me in the direction of what I want for my life. The question of who do I want to be? has become more important than the question what do I want to do? It is a radical shift in perspective and it has allowed me to take risks I never thought I would take and to be content with not knowing the outcome.

Is it really possible to make a living–more importantly have a lifestyle– writing, traveling, teaching, learning, and helping others to do the same? I have to be open to the possibility that it is.

When I stopped listening to the societal expectation that my life had to look like this or that, something quite lovey happened. I gave up ‘security’ for clarity and freedom in the face of the unknown. Some people tell me my ideas (but really the trajectory of my life) is nice for now but not realistic in the long-run. The majority, however encourage and support me. A few put me on a pedestal and act as if I have been given some special power to break the mold. The truth of the matter is I am just a person that decided to see what would happen if I surrendered again to the unknown. I felt that life presented me a concrete choice and I decided to try for the life I want. The road ahead is unexpected and also marvelous, wherever it should lead.