So this is Christmas

This is my first Christmas with NO family.  I have been in San Diego for five years now and have traded a Christmas here then the next year Christmas in Michigan.  Although, except for that first year I don't think the Christmas celebration has actually fallen ON Christmas.  But, even when it didn't I had my sister and my niece with me on the actual holiday.  This is my first year without them since they relocated to the East Coast.  Its really got me thinking about what the holidays are going to be like next year, what if I find myself somewhere for Halloween that doesn't celebrate Halloween??? Where am I going to be for Christmas????  Will I even notice that Thanksgiving has come and gone??? How exciting!!

The why factor

I've been getting a lot of questions about why I am taking this trip, what I plan to do with it, etc.  I have no plans beyond getting the experience, I have many reasons.  The biggest reason is that I am out of answers.  I don't know what I am supposed to do with my personal or professional life at this point, and I'm hoping to find some clarity.  I am not even going with any questions, if I don't have the answers than maybe I am asking the wrong questions.  I don't know what answers I am looking for, I am only hoping that they find me along the way.  This is not a study of human nature, although I am excited to go observe the interactions between people I already know that at our core we are all the same.  This is not an Eat, Pray, Love situation where I am growing older and more lonely and am going in search of self so that I can love, although I am expecting a healthy dose of self reflection and realization.  I am going because I have no more answers, and this seems to be the only one that makes sense to me anymore.  I have started putting together a more concrete idea of where I will be and when (guided by some fantastic festivals around Europe!!) and I will be posting those soon!