I left Buenos Aires headed to Baltimore via Toronto.  My parents were picking me up in Baltimore. When one buys an airline ticket with points the layover could be just about anywhere.  The Toronto airport was a tad confusing because I went through US Customs there instead of when I arrived in the States. Apparently the US has agreements with certain countries to do customs before even arriving in America?  Going through US customs is always interesting. . . Going through US customs at 6am after a 15 hour overnight flight and not yet being in the US is downright wacky. I always feel like I am being asked trick questions and I am thisclose to staring in my very own episode of Locked Up Abroad.

US Customs Agent: Hello.
Me: Good morning.
UCA: Why were you in Argentina?
Me: Traveling.
UCA: Why are you in Canada?
Me: Ummm because my layover is here?
UCA: Why are you going to Baltimore?
Me: Ehh because my parents are picking me up there?
UCA: Where are you going from my Baltimore?
Me: Pennsylvania.
UCA: Why?
Me: The holidays?
UCA: Where in Pennsylvania?
Me: Hershey?
UCA: Welcome to the United States (while we are both standing in the Toronto airport.)
Me: Thanks. . .

My parents did, indeed. pick me up in Baltimore and we headed to PA.  I loved being home.  It gave me such an amazing perspective for this trip.  When I left in September, I had brought a bunch of clothing and things back from California to store at my parents house.  As I was packing for my trip, I thought about how I really didn’t like any of the things I had brought with me.  Nothing was particularly wrong with anything, I just wanted things that were newer, better, bigger etc.  And yet, when I walked into my room at my parents home and opened the closet where I had stored my things it was like opening Pandora’s Box.

I have so much stuff!!
It’s all clean!!
I can do laundry whenever I want!!
Look at this huge bottle of shampoo!!
This is unbelievable!!

Wearing the same clothing and have mini packets of supplies for 3 months straight will REALLY make you think twice about the things you own.  Once that initial This is so great!! wore off, I was back to being ‘so-so’ again about all my things.  Why does my brain do this to me?  I’m sure others feel this way too.  There is the initial thrill of having something new only for it wear off days, weeks, months later.  A momentary high (I love my new car!!) before it fades into background noise of financial responsibility ($49.95 for an oil change?  That is ridiculous!)

For the next year, all the “stuff” I own fits into a little suitcase and backpack.  Does it drive me insane at times not to have all my stuff? Yes.  But I also get a sense of freedom from not being tied down to the ‘stuff’.’  The car, the house, the clothing. It gives me time to reflect.  I have what I have and I am comfortable with what I have.  I don’t feel the pressure to have the nicest clothing, makeup, hair because I have no other choice.  During this next year, my money is being spent on buying an experience.  Right now that is more important than all the ‘stuff’ I could collect along the way.

If you ask me what I did at home on the East Coast for a month, I wouldn’t have a riveting answer for you.  And yet, I loved every second of it.  I visited friends, spent time with my family, cooked with my mom, went to a college reunion, joined a pickleball league with my dad (if you don’t know what this game is-google it.  So much fun.  Especially when playing with mostly retired people who have had some sort of knee, hip, rotator cuff replacement surgery. Did I take it any easier on these folks?  Heck no. They were fierce competitors!) played with my nieces/nephews, watched Julia graduate with her masters as a Physician Assistant, and all in all spent quality time with the people I love.  It was such a treat to be with my family.  They are so supportive of me through this whole endeavor.

My parents, of course, are too good to me but my siblings are as well.  Being one of five kids is such a complex dynamic. I am so thankful for my siblings.  We are all so different but alike at the same time.  Each one of them has helped me this year more than they know. Their roles are as follows:

Aaron: The Problem Solver. My oldest brother is the guy who can figure things out.  He is the one I email/Skype/message if something is broken or malfunctioning. He’s the one I called when I deleted the wifi capabilities off my laptop (don’t ask me how) and had no idea how re-install it.  He’s the go-to guy when things go awry. He’s the one that answers an email in 5 minutes when I say “A little help needed please!”

John: The Motivator.  John is the one who says: “Keep blogging!  That was funny/interesting/good stuff.” John is the guy who infamously said “What are you going to win a Pulitzer for your blog.  Just start already.” He sends me regular emails saying “Hi. Where are you?  Fill us in! Stop ignoring your family!”

Matthew: The Consoler. Matt is the one who is assuring me on a regular basis.  “No, you don’t have Ebola. I think it’s food poisoning.” “No I don’t think you should buy a house, I think you should travel.” “No I don’t think you are crazy.  I think you are crazy not to do it.” Matt will spend an hour on the phone with me talking about everything from life decisions to communicable diseases.

Julia: The Do It Already-er.  Julia is the one telling me to do things NOW.  When deciding to move to California 7 years ago, she and I were on a walk and I said “I don’t know. . . I think I may do it next year.”  She responded with “If you are going to do it, I think you should do it now.” This past February, I called her and we were talking about the possibility of me taking the year off work this year to travel. I said to her “I don’t know.  I think I may do it next year.”  Julia responded with “What is going to be different next year?  If you are going to do it, do it now.”  So I did.

I’m not exactly sure what role I fill for my siblings.  Hopefully, it is something as beneficial as what they provide me!

Home was wonderful and it was -oh so- difficult to get back on the road.