57

 

Today is my 57th birthday. It's been one of the most challenging years of my life and I mean that in a number of ways. Family-wise, my 57th year on this planet was stressful and emotional unlike any other year, particularly the last five months. I've cried more than I have in years and it's all about my parents. I'm not going to expand on that at all in this blog but suffice it to say while everyone I care the most about is thankfully still alive and sticking together, it has not been easy. I have often written thankful words on this day of the year in the last dozen years and today is no different. I am healthy and alive and able to do the things that make me feel alive. I am extremely fortunate.

That includes being able to travel and explore our planet.

Calendar year 2024 was a bit of a tough travel year. Easier than other stuff that was to come after the new year in '25 but still ultimately not as satisfying as some past years. It featured two week-plus-long trips (that's too few, by the way) and a lot of work travel. The time after my birthday was extra tough: just one vacation to the country where I was born (England) and a ton of not traveling and not exploring. Except for work. And then not so much the exploring even though I tried.

So in 2025, I've taken steps to buck that one year travel trend. I am, after all, in control a bit of some of this stuff. We've already completed a week each in Belize (with a day trip to Guatemala) and Tokyo. Central America and Japan are two of my favorite parts of the world so I'm thrilled to have been able to visit each in the first half of this year. Give me time in the jungle or Japanese culture and food every day for a week or more and I'll be a happy man. Just as long as I can retreat to a comfy hotel at the end of the jungle days, that is.

On those two trips, I knocked one of my all time must visit spots off my list (Guatemala's Tikal), found some of my favorite birds (toucans) and immersed myself in one of the world's most anticipated events of each year in the blooming of the sakura or cherry blossoms in the Japanese spring. Last year it was lunar new year in southeast Asia; this year it was sakura-watching. These are not easy spots to get to and I know not everyone can do these things on demand like we have done in the last 18 months. Again, I am extremely lucky.

Decorated stone statues near the Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, the biggest city I visited this year.

Traditionally on this date's post, I check in on the goals that I set for myself as a part of this blog. But last year, I abandoned that routine, with a determination to go where I felt like it without conforming to some sort of master plan. This year, I remain true to that idea. I am still refusing to establish goals. My personal travel list is just so long and I don't see a need to prioritize my travel in five year chunks any more. I am confident that there are amazing, mind-blowing sights to see out there and I am sure I can find some to take in every year.

So what does the next year hold, travel-wise? Well, honestly it's a little murky, but the balance of 2025 looks like nothing inside the United States (weekend trips don't count) which would make 2025 only the second year that I've been writing this blog that I didn't travel somewhere in my home country that made it into the pages of this blog (2019 was the other year with trips to New Zealand, Peru and Ireland / Northern Ireland that year). Not going to lie here, we are deliberately focused outside of our borders. 

We do have two trips booked and (mostly) planned already to the Canadian Rockies and South Africa which should keep us very well occupied for the remainder of 2025 but 2026 is a blank canvas. There are no flights or hotels booked at all beyond this year we are in right now. That's extremely unusual for us and it's both exciting and daunting at the same time. Don't get me wrong, we have some ideas. Just no commitments yet. Don't worry, we'll fill up 2026 very soon, I'm sure of it. If nothing else, we need to get to Europe. I feel confident we will.

For the first five birthday posts on this blog (this is number 13), I was at home somewhere in Arlington, Virginia and the cover picture of this post featured me having a drink somewhere near to where I lived. In the seven subsequent posts, I was mostly on the road, showing up in pics taken in the New York City, Utah, Scotland and the Napa Valley (twice). Today, I am once again at home. But Canada beckons. I am super excited to fly to Calgary in the next month and start exploring the six national parks we have on our list out there. This world is a wonderful place. I can't wait to see what the next year brings for me. I know it's going to be awesome exploring some new places.

The harbor (or harbour) at Mousehole (pronounced mow-zul). Possibly the smallest town I visited this year.