Like Slowly Pulling a Bandage Off

May I take a moment and share with you something that is not easy about our traveling lifestyle?

A nomad must get proficient at the art of saying good-bye – for you are always arriving and soon after leaving. Unless one can become detached emotionally enough, it’s going to tug at heartstrings.

For me, I choose to not to strive for detachment – for meeting and connecting with people is a big part of the adventure. I would much rather have a deep friendship that I miss, than not allowing a connection to be made for fear of loss. Most of the time I can say my goodbyes without tears and sorrow, for I know my travels will eventually bring me back around to visit. For I know that technology allows me to stay in touch with the people we connect with in ways not previously possible.

However, this past month has been a particularly difficult one in terms of trying to keep good-byes cheerful. We have been positively swimming in abundance of awesome connections. Between all of the amazing nomads we shared community with at the NuRVers Gathering, family and some particularly special new friendships made here in Texas, each good-bye we’ve made has been like slowly pulling a bandage off. Each tug grabs at our hearts a little more, and the tears are becoming more and more difficult to hold back.

These connections have been an unusual departure from our norm – both in terms of how many we’ve made and the depth we’ve had opportunity to explore. With our sometimes short stopovers, there’s generally not time to get below the surface level of initial friendship. However, for the past two and half months, we’ve been somewhat still in the Austin area of Texas to concentrate on launching our first iPhone app – State Lines. This has had the unexpected side effect of opening doors to forging friendships that now have intentions to last a life time.

In many ways, these depths of connection have been an element in our lives that has been missing. We have not only been saying good-bye to amazing inspiring people – we’ve been mourning the impending loss of sense of close community. I’ve honestly not felt quite like this since I left my community in Florida to hit the road 3 years ago. Leaving the Austin area on Thursday is going to one of the most difficult departures we’ve had to make yet.

I don’t view this is a bad thing, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It is instead a magnificent reminder of my core inspiration to be out here on the road. To connect deeply. And that I have.