Well, here we are. Five years later and I’m still doing this damned blog…
Sure, my Year in Review posts are great to recap the things we did throughout the previous year, but these anniversary posts are a little bit different. These posts allow me to step back just a little and see things from a higher level.
In my last anniversary post, I reflected on how far I’ve come in the time since I started this blog. From being a stressed out wreck with severe financial troubles, wandering aimlessly through my career and with no hope of finding another woman to love, last year’s post was a bit melodramatic.
This year though, I have nothing but continued growth and happiness.
We, of course launched our four-month-long road trip that ran from June through September, which made me think back on when I first started this blog. At that time, I thought I’d be lucky if one day I broke the border and got out of New Mexico.
Well. Have I got news for you.
Last year alone, we traveled through 27 states (yes, more than half of the states) on our way to visit eight states. Now, when I say “visit”, I mean we spent at least two nights there and did some sort of exploration.
Now knowing that this year, I will be breaking the international border for the first time in my life?! What’s next, space exploration in 2026?!
Of course, I jest, but in seriousness, I do plan on trying to get us a trip to Switzerland lined up for 2026. I think that would be a fantastic gift for Brandy and we are in a perfect position to do it.
I am looking too far ahead though, when this is supposed to be looking back at the last five years of Wandering New Mexican.
There was an extended period of time through the middle-end of 2023 and into 2024 where I was just absolutely over-the-moon happy with the way my life has turned out. I felt immense gratitude for all the opportunities I’ve been given the last five years and do not take them for granted at all.
But, I am a little sad to say that some of that luster has worn down. Don’t get me wrong, I am still eternally grateful for everything I have but it’s not a constant elation I feel any more.
As a result, I’ve taken to writing in a bullet journal to keep track of my emotions and just keep reminding myself that my life is great, no matter what external forces try to take that happiness away. The task is to find out what those external forces are. Try to figure out what’s making not-as-happy as I was at the end of 2023.
Again, this is not to say that I am in any way unhappy, I’m just not as happy I was then.
Anyway, again, super thankful, working, traveling, new vehicles every couple of months… let’s keep it going for year six!
-Phil