I’ve been a nomad for over two years now, traveling the world and dating, and this is what I’ve found… · I meet more viable men while traveling abroad, compared to when I lived in one place or traveled full-time in the U.S. · Even with the capability to screen/filter, I meet more men I’m actually interested in in-real-life, vs. on dating apps · Even though I’m currently single, the fleeting connections I’ve experienced this year give me hope that I’ll find my future long-term partner out there in the world But a thriving dating life means I’ve also met some busters (in the wise words of TLC). From the (relatively) benign to the bad, these are the three types of “busters” I keep encountering over and over again on the nomad life...
Tag: relationships
I’m a Full-Time Solo Traveler: Do I Ever Get Lonely?
Loneliness. As a full-time nomad and solo traveler, I am asked about this often — so here's my long-winded answer: I have never felt deep isolation or prolonged loneliness... but what about *sustained* connections?
Why We Should Stop Looking for Soulmates
11 years ago, I traveled to Greece for the first time. It had been a few years since my verbally abusive relationship ended; but during that trip, I felt like I had finally healed and was ready to date again. I was also in my mid 20s, and starting to feel the pressures from society. When would I get engaged? Would I hit the milestones I was supposed to in the right time frame? Were we dating in vain, or was my partner going to propose? Now, in my mid-30s, my outlook on marriage and relationships has completely changed. I believe some people are only meant to stay in your life for a season, and that longevity is not the primary goal. I also discuss the sunk cost fallacy. Read on...
Letter to My Narcissistic Ex-Lover
I bought matching bracelets for us. I would’ve given yours to you, with a hug, a kiss, and a little inside joke: that I wanted to be the last girl to give you a bracelet at the beach. But you were cold, then hot again. You were salty and derisive, then sweet and complimentary. You [...]
I’m a Nomad, But No, I Won’t Consider a Long-Distance Relationship (+ Caveat)
I’ve spent the past six years largely single. I’ve been on too many first dates to count. I’ve had a couple brief romantic attachments. I even thought I was falling in love once or twice — that there was serious long-term potential — ready to go all-in. I’ve been over-the-moon in rose-colored bliss, and I’ve [...]
I’m a Nomad: How I Build a Network of Friends in the Places I Visit
I've been traveling solo full-time since September 2020, moving from place to place every few weeks. And sure, I travel alone, but I'm not usually alone! So how do I end up making friends while on the road? These are my top six friend-finding tactics.
I Can Get Any Guy I Want
Boastful, you say? I can get any guy I want... but the emphasis is on “I want.” I'm looking for the relationship I deserve with the man I want — and ignoring all others — because when someone shows me who they are, I believe them.
Marriage is Not the Be-All-End-All
If never marry, so be it. Don’t feel sorry for me. My life has begun, and it's full of possibilities.
What I’ve Learned About Rejection
Rejection is a fact of life, and it’s happened over and over to all of us, including me.
I’m Single, but Complete
I'm two months from my 34th birthday and I just realized I spent pretty much the entire length of my 30s stone-cold single.
My Rules for the First Date
Time and time again, I run into idiot adult men who don’t know how to do a first date properly. So, I’m gonna get some hell for this one, but I don’t care… these are the rules for the first date.
The Values Most Important to Me in 2018
As I look back on the last year, I feel fortunate to have adopted these three principles, now so wholly ingrained in my thinking that they might as well be a part of me.
Vulnerability Isn’t Weakness, It’s Power
Scary, at first, but once the floodgates were open, the POWER this revelation brought surged through me. This was me, my truth, my humble heart: "I'm not over you."
Traveling Solo as an Introvert
I consider myself primarily an introvert, but there is a time and a place where my curiosity goes toe-to-toe with my introversion and wins — abroad.Â
Why I Quit Dating Apps
Over the past decade, I dived into dating apps in earnest, looking for the one — only to be disappointed and bored. I quit.
I’m In My 30s, I’m Not Married, and I’m Fine
I spent much of my late 20s and early 30s trying to lock down all the things I thought I was supposed to have (and society expected me to have) "by the time I was 30.”
My Zero-Tolerance Approach to Dating
Being confident doesn't mean going after him. It's knowing your worth, it's preserving your dignity, it's putting up with no crap.
Behold, the Power of Female Intuition
It rings a little alarm bell in your mind. It makes you tilt your head. You can’t put a finger on it… but something’s not right. Something doesn’t make sense.
Vulnerability is the New Black
Having the courage to reveal your flaws, voice your fears, and speak your truth is actually attractive. So why aren't more people vulnerable?
When Not to ‘Give the Guy a Shot’
If I can’t imagine a future with someone within the first few dates, I probably never will. And then it's sayonara.