Three and a half years ago, I stood in my New Jersey apartment, surrounded by boxes I was about to put into storage. Tears streamed down my cheeks.
I’d recently ended a two-year, live-in relationship. We loved each other deeply, but just weren’t the right fit — and although the split was a gut-wrenching decision, we both knew it was the right move.
I had just accepted a fully remote job, which allowed me to explore moving out of the New York City area — something I had been considering for about a year.
I planned to just travel for a few months before settling down somewhere, but I ended up spending the next three years as a nomad.
Although it wasn’t quite what I’d pictured when I said goodbye to the apartment I shared with my ex, it turned into one of the most important chapters of my life.
My brief stint abroad turned into a longer chapter
My post-breakup plan was to put all of my belongings into a storage unit and spend a few months in Tulum.
After that, I would travel to Miami and Los Angeles, “interviewing” both cities as candidates for a longer-term move. I was about seven months into this plan when I learned my role was going to be eliminated.
Luckily, I was able to secure freelance work, so I decided to continue my travels since I wasn’t needed in one particular place for my job.
From Tulum, I headed to Mexico City. After just a few days, I fell in love with the food, vibrancy, people, and culture. My one-week vacation turned into an almost three-month stay.
During my time in Mexico City, I explored art galleries and museums, learned some Spanish, made friends, went on dates, visited small shops, and tipped local people well.
These little moments helped me learn how adaptable I truly was. I realized I could make friends anywhere, stay disciplined with my work even while exploring a new place, safely navigate dating as a solo traveler, and be extremely resourceful.
I kept exploring. I took the nomad life slowly, spending about four or five months abroad at a time in places like Paris, Lisbon, Málaga, London, Melbourne, Miami, and Tulum.
Between travels, I’d spend a few months recharging in a sublease (or a friend’s apartment) in New York City.
I felt my confidence grow as I navigated new cities and connected with inspiring women from all over the world
When traveling solo, every choice you make is yours, from where you eat to how you spend your days. I felt immensely grateful for this freedom — every day, it struck me how lucky I was to have every minuscule decision be solely my own.
That’s not to say I felt lonely, though. With each new city and country I stayed in, I was delighted by the magic of connecting with strangers.
One time, I struck up a conversation with another woman at a particularly intense yoga class in Tulum. She was visiting from Canada, and we ended up spending a whole day together.
I had another memorable experience in Europe. I had been traveling by myself for about three years at that point, and although it was incredible, I was exhausted. I felt ready to return to New York City, but I wasn’t sure I could afford to do so.
Then, one afternoon, my spirits were lifted when I found myself in a café in Paris, enjoying a chocolate-chip cookie and a latte. An older woman started chatting with me, and soon, another young woman traveling solo from Korea joined in.
We all shared stories and giggled as we sipped our coffees. As the older woman left the café, she said, “You two girls exchange numbers now, and spend time together.”
We laughed at the gentle demand, but wound up spending that evening — and the next day, too — exploring the city as a pair. I may or may not ever see her again, but she told me that if I ever visit Seoul, I’ll be welcomed with open arms.
Best of all, this time in my life helped me stay open and live in the moment
I learned that not every place has to be a permanent home, and not every relationship has to last forever; in fact, some friendships might just last for the span of a trip.
The memories I made during this time will stick with me, though I’ve since emptied out my storage unit and settled into a one-year lease in New York City.
My nomadic chapter is closed for now, but my encounters with strangers, small moments in new cities, and solo time with myself left me changed for the better — and will surely inspire my next adventure.
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