Over the Moon (A Leap of Faith)
On January 25th, my roommate in London asked me if I were free to travel with her over Easter weekend. Without hesitation, I said yes. Not a huge announcement, I know. Sounds more like a weird flex, but let me lay out some context for you.
May moved to London a few months before myself, but took up residence in our Airbnb about two weeks after I did. Before January 25th, we shared one meal together, alongside our host Cara. We had accumulated two whole text conversations in this span of time, consisting of less than 40 texts total, before May asked me to travel with her. Besides our age, May and I share no obviously similar traits, characteristics, lifestyles, habits or hobbies. May is, however, a sweet woman who wants to explore as much as I do in the time we have.
On that last note is what I placed my answer on entirely. Here was someone with the guts to travel alone around the UK to explore while she had the privilege of location. Here was also someone willing to ask another lone traveler if they were interested in accompanying. This was no dramatic friendship that blossomed at once. Nor a happy coincidence that we would both be in Edinburgh at the same time.
What this moment on January 25th came down to was (1) May had a bank holiday, list of places she wanted to go and an open mind, and (2) I had a “F*ck it, let’s make memories” attitude.
Also, travel is SO CHEAP throughout the UK. That decision was handed to me on a platter.
In a similar vein, while out having drinks with some girlfriends in early February, I found myself in a kindred situation. It seemed some birthday’s were coming up. Two of my friends wanted to travel for said birthdays and they asked if I would be willing to join? We had only met each other a few weeks before, had met in person only a handful of times, but the opportunity was right there! I knew what the safe questions to ask would be before I signed up for anything - i.e., “what’s everyone’s traveling style” or “should we get to know eachother better first” or “what if we don’t mesh well on the trip?”. But frankly, in that moment, I didn’t care to ask. Not because the answers would be hard to swallow, but because the opportunity was too good to waste on what ifs.
So, in two days, I’ll be laying on a beach in Fuerteventura, Spain, sun-batheing in March. And, in two months, I will be frollicking through castles and high-country in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Sometimes, knowing when to ask questions is the greatest skill you can have. But sometimes, knowing when to silence the questions and jump in feet first is an even greater skill to learn.
Who knows whether these weekend trips will be the highlights of 2023 or the rockiest part of my time in Europe? For me, the question wasn’t about what could go wrong. The question was what am I waiting for?
Hasta luego.
e