09/07/2026
One year. 365 days ago, I packed my whole life into two backpacks and boarded a flight with no real plan, just a one-way ticket to Portugal and a deep, terrifying urge to leave behind everything in the United States.
Looking back, I had no idea what I was doing. But stepping onto that plane changed my life. Finding work at that tiny surf camp in Sagres, Portugal wasn’t just a job; it was the start of a completely new way of existing.
For the first time, I found a community that made sense to me. People living simply, chasing the surf, moving through the world with so much connection, warmth, joy, and authenticity.
Living in the US, I used to feel crazy for wanting something different—for not wanting to collect stuff, stay in one place, or follow the standard timeline.
But Sagres taught me I wasn’t crazy at all. I found people who were just like me.
It hasn’t been easy. Living out of two backpacks is hard. But living with so little has made my life infinitely richer. It turns out you really don’t need much to be deeply happy.
A year later, I’m still traveling, still exploring, and still figuring it out as I go. But I’ve found myself. And I finally feel at home, no matter where I am in the world.
And that’s how travel has changed my life. 🤍✈️🦋
