Escaping The Polar Vortex (Part 4)
We’ve been home for a few weeks now but the warm tropical breezes of St. Thomas still linger in my memory. If I close my eyes I can almost imagine floating on my back in the ebb and flow of the ocean waves, staring up at the sapphire blue sky, tasting salt water on my lips. Hopefully these memories will stay vivid until Spring.
Travel teaches us more than a classroom ever could. Traveling forces you right out of your comfort zone and makes you think on your feet, if you're not feeling a little of that then you're not doing it right. If you open yourself up to the unknown, it can even make you see the world differently, be more empathetic towards others and infinitely more grateful for what you have.
We've learned a lot over the past four years of visiting these islands. Hopefully we'll be lucky enough to return. The past couple of years we've treated our friend Lecia to dinner the night before we leave as a thank you for the hospitality she's shown us.
It’s become a ritual that just before we leave for the airport to come back home to Minnesota we take a picture with our friend (and Airbnb host) Lecia. I’m always amazed at the differences in how we look from when we get there to when we leave 7-10 days later. We always look healthier and way more relaxed than when we arrived.
As we’re making our way through airport customs/security and up the stairs to the plane I always replay the experiences we’ve had and the people we met in my head and wonder how our time in the islands could have passed so quickly.
When I’m settled in my cramped seat my thoughts immediately turn to the future and our life back home...family, friends, and our dog Amstel. Then I start to think about the grind, my goals for the year ahead.
I'm very grateful for the life I live. It's taken a lot of time and work (and a fair amount of mistakes) to get here yet I have so much further to go. Every year, at some point in our trip, my wife and I always say to one another, I wonder what will happen in these next twelve months?
I have to admit, part of the fun of it all for me is the mystery of it all, the not knowing. All we can do is work hard and plot our course but the rest is up to luck and the Universe.
Hopefully the 2020 version of me will stand on this beautiful patio, overlooking the ocean, feeling proud of the last twelve month's accomplishments and have a full list of tasks on my to-do list for the next year. I couldn't be more excited to find out.
This year I discovered my favorite radio station on the island, AM 1340 WSTA, has a streaming app so I'll be able to "visit" St. Thomas whenever I need to, I just have to launch the app and listen.
As for now, I have a lot of making up to do with this little guy...
Click below for previous posts about our Caribbean adventure:
Thanks for joining me on this trip and...Be Breezy,
Eric
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Very nice article and I feel your pain! We spent 20 day of January cruising the Grenadines on a 42ft sailing catamaran. We've spent much of the time since dreaming of getting back there as soon as we can! While life on our boat (we live aboard a 46ft monohull) in Kemah, TX ain't bad, we do miss the blue water and warm breeze!
That sounds like an amazing adventure!
Unfortunately, all good things end and we just have to remember happy days with love and warmth. And after a rest, we should start working with double strength to allow us to return there next time. Great message. thank
Your great adventure recorded on the blockchain. What could be better?
You guys found your place in the sun. Please excuse the pun.
I like all the photos and how you planned them out. The framing on the first has a fun 3d perspective.
I do miss the ocean I grew up 45 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.
The furthest ocean we have visited is the Indian ocean Mumbai. Of course in the 1980's when we visited it was called Bombay. We watched a cobra snake charmer on the beach.
I love your vacation photos as it awakens such fond memories for me.
haha! Steem on!
I'm so glad you enjoyed it and it sparked memories in you! I feel such an affinity to this place, I somehow know eventually we'll spend part of our year here. Do you have any photos of your trips to India? That would be a cool thing to see. Thanks for your comment and Steem on my friend!
I know I sound like a broken record. Back in the day, when we went you used real film and there was no such thing as digital. You were allowed only so many rolls into the country. Why I don't know.
When I ask Mike about such things he always tells me some survived the fire. I have never seen them. I know we have some slides that need to be converted to film. Those you would find interesting. But those were not of the Indian Ocean.
I really do need to start writing for my own self-experiences as I had forgotten about the cobra. I know I remember they were filming a movie in Bombay that day and watching a woman dance during the filming. Thanks for the memories again. lol
Aw your puppy waiting for you. I always think about my sweet little Chi Monty, who waits patiently for me in the Cold New England Winter for my return from my UK sojourn. I'm usually gone for at least three months, so he is always so excited to see me again. But I don't think Time exists the same for them as it does for us, so never sure if he feels it more then when I just pop out to the store?
This looks an amazing trip. I LOVE being on/in/near the sea and try to be so as much of my year as possible. I have not been to St. Thomas but it is on my list.
In life, each person has favorite places where he periodically returns, regardless of their employment and opportunity. Something very good is connected with each of these places. I hope the year 2020 you also visit these islands.
I understand you. After a good rest, you still remember happy moments for a long time, and you want to return to your favorite places where a piece of your heart stayed. Beautiful photos. Thank you
Really looking at the photo you can see that you are rested and happy. As the sun is known, the sea and sand charges you with immunity for the whole year. A good message, thanks for sharing
Tell us about yours story is great ,it's feel that you enjoyed your trip..it's my pleasure to read your story and photos.
Great photograph shared by you here
I love seeing the adventures of others. I agree, traveling can be a great experience. It's a different kind of calm, when you let the surroundings refresh your soul (if that makes sense) and helps you get through the next year. I bet Amstel missed you both dearly.