And so it begins again. I am officially homeless with all my belongings in a 5′ x 10′ storage unit or in the back of my car. I performed my last work related task last week going to a workshop in Virginia. When that workshop was over and everyone prepared to go home, I realized, I didn’t have a home and the reality of sabbatical really hit me hard. This isn’t a bad thing, it is just a different thing. It unsettles me a bit. As a person who likes a routine, the thought of being adrift, living in other people’s homes and lives for over a year is a little unnerving. However, it is definitely an opportunity for growth and collecting stories.

When you are on the road, you have a lot of time to reflect in addition to listening to a lot of NPR. When I left Seattle, I had the privilege of having my adult son with me while I was driving across the country. It was wonderful to have an extra person to help with driving, bikes, and gear. We got to see some mountains, buffalo, the great plains, all while arguing the merits of the metric system.

It was also great just to get to spend some time with him. The older we get, we realize that the time we have with loved ones is finite and I will take every opportunity in my life to develop and foster my relationships.

Life takes so many twists and turns. Relationships begin and end and we have to appreciate what they give us while we have them. As I read through this blog, I realized how my relationships over the last decade since my last sabbatical have changed. Some have become stronger, others have faded, and some of them are no more. From all of them, I have grown and learned and become the woman I am today. The memories and knowledge of the love I have received are what makes it possible to face the unknown, the lack of routine, and the chosen path of homelessness I am embarking on. The love we have in our lives is the foundation of our strength and I will never take it for granted.