2015: A Great Traveling Year

A very happy Ashley in Prague, March 2015

I didn't really realize how great of a travel year I had in 2015 until I started to pen this post. I conquered 9 new cities and one new country that I had never visited before! I'd say that's a major win; and this is what I love about blogging: in documenting, I realize how stupendous my year actually was.

Let's break down where my travel disease led me by month: 

JANUARY 

My first trip of the year brought me to artsy, weird, beautiful Portland, Oregon. I'd categorize Portland as a sleepy, yet odd city/town with a great music and food scene. 

 Also, the trees in Oregon are just loooooovely. 

FEBRUARY - APRIL

Once February rolled around, I worked quite diligently on my evil master plan: I scoured the interwebs for a way to have an extended stay in my beloved London. My job allowed for me to work from home, so first thing I did was ask the boss if she didn't mind of I, ya know, worked from halfway around the world. She said "As long as you get your work done, that's fine with me!"

Moral: If you don't ask, you shall never receive!

Next thing was accommodation. How was I going to afford a 4-6 week stay in the most expensive city in the world?? Enter trustedhousesitters.com, which provides free housing in return for petsitting.  I watched Oscar the dog for over 3 weeks. This coupled with a few nights here and there at my friends' places (and a mini Euro trip) allowed me to have a FULL 6 WEEK STAY in LONDON TOWN. 

Oscar the dog.

For my mini Euro trip, I went to Florence and Prague.

 The magnificent Il Duomo. 

 It's impossible not to fall in love with Prague. 

When I returned to England, I took one more mini trip to Birmingham and Stratford-Upon-Avon.

I then returned to London for a couple more days before I bid adieu.

MAY 

I finally took it easy on travel (my pocket book was happy about this).

JUNE
Back at it again, this time in Boston.

Going to a Red Sox game is an absolute must! 

(THEN CAME) JULY

This was a big month for me--the month I got a promotion at my job and opportunity to move to the East Coast. I chose New York City as my new home, and this month I was off to Waterloo, Canada for training (my company has a branch in Canada). 

AUGUST

I spent two whirlwind weeks saying goodbye to loved ones in San Diego, and then, August 15, 2015 is when I moved to NYC in the sweltering, crazy summer heat. 

SEPTEMBER

No travel this month, as I started to ease into my new city and build a community around me (whilst also appreciating every rooftop/skyscraper view).

OCTOBER

Took a very quick work trip to DC, went out at night and snapped a blurry photo of the white house while some guy yelled at us to "not get too close!" Okay, guy. 

NOVEMBER 

Stayed in New York, had a fun Friendsgiving.

DECEMBER

Went to Miami, which was warm and relaxing, but not terribly interesting in the winter so I never posted on it.

And finally, I took a trip back to San Diego for Christmas. I stayed for a New Year's Eve Wedding, which was magical and beautiful (and a reunion for old college roommates/sorority sisters).

What a year! Internally, 2015 was a year I was going through some struggle, knowing I had to branch out of San Diego, but was still figuring out the how/when/where. I think this was evident in my random travel to a few US cities ("should I live here?"), as well as returning to London for a long stay because I missed it so.

The move to New York was decided in a matter of days, and east just felt like the right direction. It is a city where I believe I get my "travel" in everyday--there's no shortage of things to do and interesting people to see.

I still battle my grass-is-greener syndrome, I still miss London, and I wonder if I will ever live in Europe again; however, this is home, now. In creating a post like this, I realize I don't have to envy another place, another life. My own life is pretty sweet, and I'm curious to see where 2016 will bring me, or rather, where I choose to go, because life is all about choosing and creating. 2015 is a testament to that.