I have always had a passion for traveling, and I find joy in exploring both familiar and unfamiliar places. I'm not fussy about accommodations; I'm happy in a hotel, a friend's home, a tent, or my beloved Airstream Basecamp 16x.

Recently, my mother visited, and we had a lovely conversation with a Rhode Island friend of mine about my mom’s life adventures. My friend remarked on my mother's wanderlust spirit, which she must have passed on to me.

My mother shared one story: when she flew from Cleveland to Germany in a propeller plane in 1963 with her girlfriend. This flight lasted 24 hours, had no window, and no amenities or flight attendants with snacks. The entire flight was full of German passengers in the same singing group, and she was the only one who only spoke English. The idea of going to Europe was her drive for this adventurous trip.

Her entire trip throughout Europe had no itinerary. They would walk around and see what happens, creating their adventure in the moment. They'd go to the airport, look at what flights were available, and fly to a place that felt good. One day, they decided to fly to Barcelona, Spain, because it was the celebration of the changing of the popes. One day they went to the airport and chose Paris as their next destination. While in Paris, they wore red dresses with matching red floppy hats and walked around the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, standing out among all the people.