Happy New Year!

New year, new name, new adventures!

I began this blog in the spring of 2011 when I was living alone in the woods and looking for ways to share my writing and photography with others. At the time, I called myself The Perpetual Vagabond, as I was in constant motion — rarely living in any one place for more than a few months at a time — and traveling as often as possible.

Now, thirteen years later, so much has changed. I still travel, but it’s more of something I do, rather than a full-time lifestyle. I have endless ideas and plans for places I will go and things I want to do and learn, but I also have a lovely apartment and a wonderful partner — I’m slowly growing roots and enjoying the idea of “home” more and more. In essence, I am just not quite a vagabond like I once was.

All of this is to say that I recently realized I needed a new name for myself, and this site, to represent a new phase in my life: It Could be Sunshine was born. I have also updated my “about” page and added links for my publications and past posts (archive). I will likely make more changes and updates in the weeks and months to come. I also plan to be more active on here, pushing myself to write and create and share it all, as I go.

This past year was the first time in a long time where I felt re-engaged with travel, writing, art, and community. 2023 was a big year and I’m grateful for all that I was able to do and learn! Some of the highlights:

My partner and I walked about 200 miles of the Le Puy route (Via Podiensis) of the Camino de Santiago in France (you can find all of the information about this trip in previous posts).

On our trip to France we also visited Amsterdam and Brussels.

2. Back at home, I was a featured writer and Flash Fiction/Nonfiction contest winner in io Literary Journal’s Volume 4.

Excerpts from my doctoral dissertation were published by Routledge in Crafting Autoethnography: Processes and Practices of Making Self and Culture. My work is in Chapter 12.

We took multiple trips to the Oregon Coast!

And of course, we spent lots of time walking and exploring in nature wherever we were!

All of this is to say, that it was a good year overall. Although there were also many challenges. I spent lots of time with family who were ill or needed extra support — visiting loved ones in the hospital became a regular occurrence. I also dealt with my own health issues and health anxiety. Sometimes the more I am enjoying my life the more anxious I become about my own mortality and what I might miss out on if I were to pass from this world unexpectedly. Normal existential angst, really, but something I am working to face and move through with grace.

I also find myself struggling with the daily experience of going to work. I feel most connected to myself and existence when I am outdoors, especially when walking. Even though I work in Outdoor Education, my role is mostly indoors, at a computer, in a windowless office. I love that we get kids outdoors, exploring nature…but I also feel like maybe I am not cut out to be the one to facilitate that from behind the glow of a screen. And yet, it’s hard to complain. My job allows me the time to travel and spend time with family and do so many of the things I love.

For 2024, my focus is on learning to sit with discomfort. While I know that the most meaningful and important experiences of my life have been those that were hard, I still shy away from sitting with difficult feelings or experiences. I am making it a daily practice to remind myself that instant gratification does not usually bring me long-term joy and that discomfort is necessary for most experiences that make me feel alive.

I wish you all a wonderful 2024! I hope you find lots of opportunities to play and to bring your most important dreams to life!