I left the US and the question everyone asks is: why?
Many people think it has something political, or some major personal trauma, or something big enough to make me just up and leave.
But why not leave simply because I want to?
In my circle, it’s not a common thing to do. Granted, most of the people I know have children and jobs with physical locations—but that’s not the only reason people don’t get up and go explore the world.
We don’t do it because it’s not practical. It does not make sense to the responsible adults we were brought up to be. We don’t. We make plans. We have timelines. We have departure and return dates.
When I said I was “going to travel for a bit,” no one really understood what that meant—and they certainly didn’t expect it would last as long as it has. Many were happy for me, while others were confused by it. But the one thing I believe everyone, and probably myself included, was thinking… was that I would be back within a few weeks. Maybe a month or two at most.
Leaving a Life That Was Just Fine
When I left, my life was just fine.
I experienced a loss a month earlier, but the idea was already floating in my head before that. When I returned from Oceania in 2023, I knew I wanted to travel more. It’s something I’ve always wanted—but I kept subscribing to convention and talking myself out of going for it.
After a month flying around Australia and New Zealand, I came back wanting to find a way to work 10 days a month and have 20 days to just live. I talked about it. In a way, I put it out into the universe. I had some ideas of how it could work, but I continued with life as usual.
Deep down, I knew I needed to get out there.
Then Africa Sparked a Fire
When I returned from Africa in the summer of 2024, figuring out how to work my 10/20 plan became more important.
At the time, I was also trying to figure out what I was going to do next—because my lease was ending, and I had already decided I wasn’t interested in staying there.
What if I traveled for a bit?
It was just a thought—quickly met with adult rebuttal.
How? When? Where? Safety? Money? Work?
Adult stuff.
That Nudge Turned Into a Leap
While I have always been the type to do my own thing and do what I wanted, the past few years have been filled with reminders that we only get so many chances to live freely.
When you reach 45, you realize you’re on the back 9 of life.
So if not now, then when?
I’m the one who got in my car and made a quick trip to Jekyll Island.
I’m the one who ends up in Key Largo (2 hours away) because while I was on my way to Delray (10 minutes away), my appointment called and canceled.
Adventure is not new to me—but this one may be the outer edge of my reach.
A Hard Lesson in Not Saving Life for Later
The last few years have been steady reminders of the importance of not saving life for later.
I’ve seen some losses—including my closest friend of over 20 years.
She was doing everything for the future she ended up not having.
Losing her was a confirmation and a reminder:
Keep doing what I do.
Be unapologetic and bold with it.
As adults, we spend so much time on the what ifs, we lose sight of the why nots.
We miss out on the opportunities that could have been.
“I Think I’m Going to Travel for a Bit”
That phrase sounds like a vague, passing thought.
Something we say in the moment and then move on to responsible adult actions.
But why not?
I don’t know anyone else who’s done this.
Black people don’t just up and go like that.
Haitians definitely don’t do that.
When I mention traveling to my relatives, the most consistent questions are:
Who am I going with?
Do I know anyone there?
That’s why, when I was considering this journey, I kept it close to the vest. The idea was wild enough—and I didn’t need voices of concern making it more scary.
And Then… I Just Went
As the days closed in toward the end of my lease, I was quietly packing boxes.
In the final week, I got a storage space and started dropping off things.
After I returned the key, I spent one more night in the city—
and the next morning, I got on a plane to Colombia.
Thus began my journey as a resident of Earth.