15 years.. just.. wow.
I can hardly believe that is how long it’s been since I pulled out of the driveway of my comfortable beachside home in a super tiny T@b travel trailer with this guy I had met on a Prius forum.
We registered the domain name of Technomadia.com just days before we headed out, combining our individual blogs to start our story together.
So that means it’s also Technomadia’s 15th anniversary today.
Oh, the places we have gone, the adventures we have had, the obstacles we’ve overcome and the growth we’ve had as individuals and as a couple.
It’s incredible that our entire relationship has been in the pursuit of perpetual wanderlust together.
Going back in time and creating a retrospective series with a lesson learned for each year was a project I concocted on a whim. You can view the entire series below, including a rather lengthy video we just released of us recollecting the years together.
I’m not quite sure I was prepared for what I signed up for when I made my first post 15 days ago.
But I’m grateful I did, it’s been a challenging morning ritual.
What a trip down memory lane, and an adventure of its own to go through old photos, blog posts and memories.
Each night I thought about the year, the lesson learned, the photo I’d pick .. and then slept on it. What came out my fingers in the morning, was beyond my control at that point.
It’s been an emotional journey recollecting the ups and downs of these years, and harder to find the lessons in the more recent years that haven’t yet had enough time to reveal what they have to teach.
Some years have hit me harder to re-experience, and completely shuttered my day. Moments that were profound are sometimes summarized into a mere word.
The process has been powerful, and the reflections from you have touched me deeply. I didn’t want this to just be a travelogue, but something that might inspire too. Several have commented that the series could be the foundation of a future book.
So what do I surmise out of this cacophony of memories?
First, I am thankful that we were bloggers when we met, and just continued. Because our nomadic journey is documented word for word. We can’t hide from each up and down. We can’t reinvent our memories.
For better or worse, we recorded them. Authenticity at its finest.
We encourage anyone taking off on a new adventure to record it. Privately. Publicly. Whatever. The process is empowering. Our human minds can so distort things in the past, so many times I had confused or forgotten details as I tried to retell them.
And a blog doesn’t.
What’s the saying? ‘I blog to remember, I drink to forget’.
Next, despite the focus on challenges in these retrospectives, my overall take on the past 15 years is one of joy, experience, adventure, growth, love, abundance, creation and community.
The challenges were just opportunities for growth. Plot points. To reveal the lessons.
Reminders that I have come a long way. I have transcended who I was at the beginning of this, and become who I am today. And who I will become tomorrow.
But the biggest thing I come out of this reflection point, is the people.
Each morning for the past two weeks I have gone through thousand of photos taken each year. Sure there are countless pretty landscapes, campgrounds, sunsets, anchorages and photos of Kiki.
But what stands out the most is the faces who frequent our captures. The people who have been there through and through, and keep popping up year after year. People that we look forward to building new albums with.
The smiles, the laughter, the hugs, the shared meals, the moments, the vulnerabilities, the paths walked, the experiences, the places we have explored together.
The people who I might spend more time missing, then the time we’ve had together.
The nomadic life has put me on a path to encounter my people more so than any stationary life ever had. It’s taught us to recognize them quicker to embrace the limited time we might have together.
But yet, at the same time, it leaves me yearning for more consistency and intentionality.
What’s Ahead
So after 15 years on the road, what’s ahead for us?
I have no freaking clue.
This exercise has been extremely valuable in reminding me of what we’ve been through. The foundation we have built to define our own priorities in life.
Where we can transcend from.
We are well on our path to making sure what we have built in our professional life can thrive into the future and serve it’s purpose without us at the daily helm. Allowing us the space to explore our future.
As we both approach the age of 50, we’re deep in thought of how we want to layout the next chapter. A chapter that doesn’t need to be focused on career or income, a blessing we have well earned at this point.
But yet knowing we are both creators and catalysts for change, and likely have another epoch up our sleeves.
We’re just not sure what it is yet. Maybe our next retrospective in a few years will have revealed it?
What we know for sure after revisiting our past lessons, we are taking that darn overdue sabbatical before embracing any new major work-like projects.
We are also curious to learn if the title of ‘Technomadia’ will endure as we explore what is beyond the rainbow we can see off in the horizon we’re heading towards? Might there be a book end coming to this story, and a new one to begin?
The future is ours to write.
Technomadia 15 Years Retrospective Series
In the lead up to Cherie's 15th Nomadiversary on May 10, 2022 - she shared a retrospective post for each year with a lesson about nomadic life and our own journey.
Here's a video recap of the series (caution, it's over 50m long!):
And here are the individual chapters of this series:
I loved your retrospective! I think there are lessons for everyone in it. Sometimes we aren’t able to see the lessons until we have enough time/distance elapsed. It has me looking at my own burnout period with new eyes. Can’t wait to see what’s next for you two.
Many of us have enjoyed, learned and benefited from your journey. Whether I’ve been on the road or laid up you guys have inspired and opened up possibilities for me. I’m so grateful
I have really enjoyed your posts about your memories and lessons from your 15 years. If we don’t face our fears, try different stuff and adjust our course as we go then we have learned nothing. Great job this 15. . . .here’s to 15 more!
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. Happy 15th anniversary! Here’s to the next 15!!!!!
Loved the video! So glad you are part of our lives – KIKI too. Til we meet again may your lives be full of serendipitous adventure.
I’ve enjoyed reading your Retrospective! You’ve had a wonderfully blessed life, and I hope it just continues for you!
Inspiring! Greatly impressed by the honesty you brought to this 15 year video summary of your adventures.
I have enjoyed your daily blogs. Thank you for sharing them with all of us and congratulations on your 15th anniversary.
Oh my you have said it all, the memories and lessons learned in retrospect, and what will be on horizons of your future. Admiral Kiki I’m sure will keep your heads straight and aligned towards an exciting and enlightened future! Have followed since around 2015 and you have been an inspiration. We are now Permanentes in Lake Chapala area of Mexico for our sunset years of constant learning and discovery. You are sometimes it’s all about the people and a pioneering spirit that you share. Kudos for a journey well lived! With hugs and respect we await following your future!
I have enjoyed your retrospective over the past several weeks. I don’t usually comment but do follow you here and on YouTube, and my husband and I have learned so much from you and Chris and MIRC. Thank you for what you do to help nomads and especially to be open and vulnerable with your followers. Looking forward to your next chapter. Congratulations on your 15th anniversary.