2016 The Big Test

I had one conversation over and over the last year, with fellow Traveler's- whether it was in Argentina or Bolivia or Hungary or Poland or even the USA.  And that conversation started with how great and amazing traveling is.  How as a traveler, you find your true self, how you conquer goals you have set for yourself everyday, how each day really is a new day unique and vibrant and completely different than the last, how you are the creator of your future, and just how empowered and happy you become while traveling.  And the conversation goes on to what is going to happen when the traveling has stopped, when you have returned home.

And many people I talked with began describing that they would need to get a job, pay for bills etc, etc.  And they talked about living in the exact same way they were living before they left to travel.

Now that may not seem odd to you, but this kind of talk threw me for a loop.

Why did it throw me for a loop?

Maybe because I defined MY traveling differently.

Many times people back home would tell me after I told them of my plans to travel across South America for 4 months, that I was taking an extended vacation.  To be honest with you, I despised this statement because it implied some things that were not true about my trip.

1.  A Vacation is basically a break from your routine.  A time to relax.  A time to reset.  And what is implied is that after vacation, you go back to doing the same things you were doing before vacation.

2.  An Extended Vacation is all the things that a Vacation is, just longer.  A longer time to relax.  A longer time to reset.  And after extended vacation, you go back to doing the same things you were doing before extended vacation.

Maybe I'm wierd, but I traveled because I was unhappy with my life, in my first post I talked about deadlines and work life and that "I'm not looking for a paved road.  I'm looking to make my own."

My trip was about learning.  If I was unhappy before, I was do something wrong, and so I set off on my trip to learn about myself, learn about others, explore, discover.  And with the things I learned along the way, I have no desire to live my life the same way I was before I left.

With that being said, 2016 has brought on a new test.  The test is to continue conquering goals I have set for myself everyday, noticing that each day really is a new day unique and vibrant and completely different than the last, creating my future, and staying empowered and happy.  And in addition, I want to share what I've learned along the way.

One of the ways I am sharing is through articles I write on my website HugSonnyHey.com

And some of my big goals are:

1. Creating a website for foreigners full of information on traveling and backpacking through the US.  The site will provide information on cities, purchasing cars, hiking national parks, etc written by us locals living in the USA.  If you have something to say about where you live I would love for you to contribute!  There is nothing like this that exists!  That website will be fully launched Feb 15 of this year...If you would like to check it out now it is ShoobyUSA.com.  If you would like to write an article on ShoobyUSA's blog definitely email me at Hughey.Sonny@gmail.com

2. Riding Horseback with limited supplies from the end of the Colorado River Delta in Baja California to its beginning at La Poudre Pass at the center of the continental divide.  I plan to begin this trip,  March 1st, 2018.