Winter is Coming. See Y’All Later!

I love summer. I am as much energized, inspired, and motivated by sunshine and warmth as I am depressed and de-energized by darkness and cold. As I watch the snow collect in Montana today (in mid September), I know it is simultaneously starting to melt in Argentina…

I am ready to hit the road.

Since I have built a life of location independence, the decision to fly south for winter is a no-brainer for me. I started my nomadism in the fall of 2015 and continued it in the fall of 2016 after returning to the US for summer. Apparently, I’m not ready to stop this pattern, despite my ideas earlier this spring.

At the moment, my travel plans don’t include any significant time in the US until summer comes back around. Surprised? Neither am I.

Patagonia is calling… and I must go.

But First, Colorado

I secured a press pass (media perks!) for the Great American Beer Festival in Denver this October. I have friends showing up for this event from all over the country, and I’m pretty sure I signed up for a brewery bus tour by myself, so this event will be an adventure to (hopefully) remember! 😉 (Come with me!)

Also, this visit to Colorado isn’t just about beer. I’m going to tie up some loose ends.

I thought I was going back to Boulder sooner than this, but then Montana happened, and I extended my stay here. It’s quite obvious where my heart lies. I also have an epic opportunity that will keep me down in Patagonia for the months between my group trips. All that is to say, it doesn’t look like I’ll be spending as much time in Boulder going forward as I imagined. C’est la vie. #jackiebeingjackie

This is the beauty of being location independent and solo. I can change my mind as often as I see fit in deciding what’s best for me. Apparently it’s one of my favorite pastimes, but I digress…

The Epic Adventure Down South

This round will be different from the last two, for two major reasons:

1. I don’t plan to settle for any significant amount of time in one place like I have done in Lecce, Bariloche, and Loreto. This year will truly be on-the-go, and the idea of constant adventure excites me beyond anything else.
2. I also won’t be alone for much of these adventures, if any, which is a total 180 for me.

I’m welcoming both of these changes with an open heart and mind.

So, where am I going?

I’m heading straight to the end of the world. I will fly into Ushuaia, Argentina and spend a week exploring Tierra del Fuego in preparation (yes, this is how we prepare) for the Adventure Travel World Summit in Salta, Argentina. I’m attending the Summit this year as both hosted media and speaker, and I could’t be more excited to integrate myself further into an organization I believe in so much.

While in Salta, I’ll also attend an Adventure Women Leadership Studio, which I’m hoping will encourage and equip me to further my ventures in working with women and groups through adventure travel.

After the party Summit, I’ll head down to Chilean Patagonia to get ready to host my second ever group trip. Last year we went to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, this year we’re adventuring through the Northern Patagonian Lake District, complete with fjords, volcanoes, and… beer. #becausejackie

The group trip ends in my beloved Bariloche, where I lived for three months last year. I can already taste the Black IPA from Manush and the steak from El Boliche de Alberto. I can see the sunset over Lake Nahuel Huapi and hear the conversations I’ll have with my friends. I can’t wait.

But, I won’t stay long…

Because one of my own personal bucket list items starts soon afterwards. I’ll be road-tripping the length of the Carretera Austral, the only road that goes through Chilean Patagonia, and one of the most beautiful on the planet. More details on that coming soon.

Come with me.

FAQ

Did I keep my place in Colorado, or do I have one in Montana? No. I now have things stored in three different states, and I’m very thankful for my friends and family who continue to help me sustain this lifestyle.

How long will I keep this up? Until I don’t want to do it anymore. I don’t have a three year or five year plan. I’m good at listening to myself and adjusting my path as I see fit in the present, and I’m grateful to be able to do so, because the present is all we really have anyway.

How long will I be gone? At least five months. I’ll be back and forth between Chile and Argentina until February, when I need to be in Ecuador to host my women’s adventure retreat. After that, Galápagos? France? Who knows.

How do I make money doing this? Short answer: dedication, hustle, and heaps of creativity. Long answer: that warrants a post in itself, which I am working on for you, stay tuned. 😉