A few months ago, I made the decision to sell everything that didn’t fit in my SUV and move to Denver, Colorado. After my husband and only child passed, I stayed in the greater Cincinnati area for 6 years before moving here. During that time, I lost my business because of the pandemic and retired. I lost most of my friendships and discovered that’s not uncommon when you go through this type of trauma. I devoted a lot of time to online dating, in the hopes of finding someone to love. That didn’t happen. I was tired of that area of the country…I had already seen and done most things multiple times and needed a change. I was traveling three months of the year and it finally dawned on me that I should move somewhere beautiful and wild so I wouldn’t feel the need to travel so much. My condo sold within days and I sold everything else within a few weeks. I reserved an Airbnb in a suburb of Denver. I was very hopeful this would be long-term, but it’s not. As I searched for a new place, it occurred to me that now was the time to be a nomad since I had sold everything and am going to get rid of even more. I no longer have things that own me, I’m free.

I’ll spend five more months here in Denver and I reserved a place in Southern Utah for the winter. I’ll be there for four months and then I’ll spend four months in the mountains of Colorado, near Dillon. It’s a scary thing to give up 99% of your possessions at my age. Most people can’t even give up clothes they don’t wear. I am adventurous and brave and want to spend the last chapter of my life really living! Here are some photos of my hiking and cycling adventures in the past week.

I got my hair cut, it was bothering me.

I went on a 20 mile bike ride with one of the groups I belong to. We stopped at six community gardens.

Yesterday I hiked 4.5 mi with one of my groups. There was a significant elevation change and we ended at 12,500 ft. It was gorgeous! I love mountain lakes.

If you’re on the fence about making a big change, give it lots of thought, but don’t wait too long!