The One Year Anniversary of Launching my Blog
Bahamas February 2023 Three years as a nomad, post pandemic, post divorce, I’m still traveling with my Scottish companion “the Rogue”. To avoid more of a cold winter, we once again decided to stop in the Caribbean in route to the UK from California. First Jamaica, then Bahamas. It was here that I launched my blog. It’s fun to see how far it has come in a year. I’m writing this back in London again, currently March 2024. Ironically I’ve been knocked back with Covid. Some things never change!
This is where I found my courage to finally launch my Second Chapter Nomad blog that I had planned to do for nearly two years. My voice had been silenced during the pandemic and divorce (and years leading up to the divorce). I felt extremely private, paranoid about judgment, ashamed about the collapse of my marriage and family of four.
Yet I knew I had something to say.
https://www.expedia.com/shop/second-chapter-nomad (I receive a small commission if booked through me). https://www.expedia.com/shop/second-chapter-nomad/caribbean
Post Divorce and Empty Nest
I searched for and devoured books and posts of other women of a certain age, who faced divorce and empty nest all at the same time. It’s a rather unique space where your whole world collapses, and you’re left adrift. Fifties and alone. After working for twenty years raising kids, sending them off to university, thinking you’re ready to embark on a second chapter with your husband. Only to discover, surprise! This second chapter you’re on your own, babe!
Adding a pandemic to the mix, and horrendous legal divorce proceedings, finding yourself in an Airbnb and out of the family home, there were some dark days. And darker nights. I kept extensive journals and took a lot of photos.
Nomad LIfe
By default, and later by choice, I became a Nomad of four years now. That first Airbnb catapulted me into an unconventional life full of uncertainty but also of adventure. Travel. Living out of suitcases. Belongings no longer in a four bedroom two story house, but in a 10×10 storage unit.
Second Chapters
My Second Chapter post divorce and empty nest became something so out of the box, I embraced it wholeheartedly. I continue to meet people in person and online that are inspired by my journey, and I wanted to capture that in a larger format – a blog, with the goal of a book.
My message is you can look fear in the face, grab grief, despair, anger, and pivot. Do something different, for YOU. Maybe it’s a baby step. Going to dinner alone. To a museum. A hike. Or going on a trip alone, or with a friend. Whatever you want to do, I encourage you to take the first step.
From the journals:
Blog launch (Feb. 2023) Bahamas:
In other news, so very excited to launch my Second Chapter Nomad blog!! I have envisioned this for years. I’ve had my Instagram for two years, but have accumulated hundreds of pages of journals and thousands of photos in the meantime, and am now putting it out to the world. I was in the middle of a tortuous divorce, and had put all of my personal belongings into storage three years ago, January 2020, and hit the skies for Scotland, London, Berlin, Dublin… never dreaming a global pandemic was ready to strike.
Cut to March 2020, lockdown, had to fly back to Santa Barbara with nowhere to hunker down. Thus began 3 years of the nomad life! In the blog I’ve started with 5 posts of Tanzania Tales (when I ran away to Africa during the pandemic), and 2 posts (of 9) of Quarantine Chronicles documenting the absurd time of lockdown and divorce. I’ll be covering Second Chapters, the Nomad Life, and of course, Travel Adventures! Next up, Zanzibar Dreams, and many many more to come. This is my passion project. I intend to motivate, support, uplift and inspire others in whatever their “second chapter” might be. I’ve always wanted to write a book, and I believe this is the first step. I am excited to connect with you all and hear what “chapter” you’re in, and what might be a bold new step you’re thinking of making!
secondchapternomad.com (includes blog and instagram)
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Feb. 23, 2023
All positive vibes. After a super glam quick flight from Kingston, Jamaica, with incredible views of the turquoise water, we settled in to a basic Holiday Inn in Nassau.
Mom getting decent news re breast cancer. Feel I can carry on with London now.
Atlantis tomorrow!
Launching blog!
Momentum on some of my projects.
Lots and lots of excitement.
Things good with the Rogue. No more negativity. Not worth it.
Three hours at Goldies https://www.facebook.com/GoldiesOfficial/?paipv=0&eav=AfZKJXhIJmAv8QGU65Pcu4nU-m0zGxVotSvKWv8yaEWD61EK9WCGAlFe3DSu3K3K83c&_rdr – 1 1/2 hours to get conch chowder LOL. Then messed up order, but still, such an enjoyable night. Fed sea turtles conch! Magical. Made a reel of it over on Insta.
ATLANTIS, BAHAMAS Feb. 24, 2023
Day at Atlantis! https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwzN-vBhAkEiwAYiO7oDoT4JY1tUJBk8CutUVljwqCRtbJYBHtO3b4igoGo0oh2CZ2VpQ4vhoC_CYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Expensive day passes, but super fun. I’ve always wanted to go. Got an early start. Took photos, wandered about. Vegas meets Disneyland in the Caribbean. Did 4 waterslides – the double inner tube into the shark pool in a tunnel; the Challenger racing each other, two more double inner tubes – the Surge, and the Falls. So fun to laugh and giggle and scream! Riding in a double tube. We had lunch at the pool, went to the beach, turquoise water, nice steak dinner in the Marina. Yachts. Lovely fun day. Took a break from work. What a relief. We’re getting along well. Next plans for London… we’ll see what’s next.
February 25
10:40 pm and feels like middle of the night. Going fairly well, though I’m not sure of the future, but today was fun. Glorious island food.
Feb. 26 – Last full day Bahamas
Woke up with The Fear. Anxiety through the roof. Let’s dissect. Clearly it’s the unknown. Probably launching the blog as well. Don’t know where I’m staying in London. Stress of the nomad.
Started the day at beach bar Tiki Bikini with chicken fingers and fries, pineapple drink.
Met GM of Margaritaville, got free drink, and discounted Whispering Angel oh yes. Chatted on phone with friends, sister and son! Love my peeps. London in a few days. Nowhere lined up.… Groucho Club? Feel like it is the short term answer. That will be the second time for that adventure.
Feb. 27, 2023 GOLDIE’S
Checked out of hotel. Overnight flight to London. Spent all day in Bahamas, eating and drinking at Goldies… with Goldie. That’s another wrap up of sun and sea. London calling.
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