April 4, 2025. This is my one year anniversary of becoming a nomad.
Many thanks to Kristine Giunco (@mtnluv_nh) for the term “Nomadiversary.”
In the past year, I have traveled to Bermuda, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Mexico, and Cuba. I also took a deep dive into Maine and finished New England (except for Appalachian Trail miles) in terms of my Hiking-the-National-Everything LifeQuest*. Meant to do the entire Ice Age Trail but ended up getting a stress fracture so only completed a bit more than half. Rehabbed the fracture in San Francisco while checking off a tiny bit of my CA LifeQuest sites/trails. Hiked the Natchez Trace National Scenic Trail (the trail sections, not the Parkway). Did all of Mississippi in terms of my LifeQuest and took a small bite out of Tennessee too.
This next year I hope to get most of the rest of the Ice Age Trail finished, do the Appalachian Trail, and hopefully hike the Florida Trail too as long as I can stay injury-free. Will also take more bites out of New York this May.
Started a YouTube channel very recently as another way of documenting hikes. It is not a guide, and I am not trying to be an influencer. It is another way of experiencing the trails besides looking at IG photos/clips.
I love this life. I don’t see myself living in one place ever again.
Costs are kept low by buying food at local grocery stores, booking lodging in one-week chunks for discounts whenever possible, and booking car rentals via Turo for at least a month at a time. Lodging rentals have better deals with one-month increments too, but one week is the most I ever stay in one place since the trails/sites I visit are spread out all over the state.
I buy nothing I don’t need and have been wearing the same daily outfit for one straight year. I am buying new leggings tomorrow though as my current ones now have too many large holes. My Lightheart Gear dress is holding up fine.
When I am thruhiking, I don’t need a car or consistent lodging, so my expenses this coming year should be minimal. Would like to get to Africa or Latin America and keep consistent progress on visiting TCC territories, but that might need to wait until after the Florida Trail.
I have never been happier in my life.
*Visiting/hiking the USA’s National Scenic Trails, National Recreation Trails, National Park sites, National Natural Landmarks, and National Wildlife Refuges.