Day 112: January 19, 2025 – Chilean Fjords

This is what I wanted my life to be: to fall asleep in one place, and wake up in another, with little effort on my part. To have a different view out my window every day. To never have to cook, clean, drive, or book another Airbnb. Now that the Belfast troubles are behind us, this is what my life has become.

I roll out of bed and head to a breakfast that I don’t have to prepare or clean up after. My days are divided into sea days and port days. On port days, I’m out the door as soon as the gangway opens. I walk the streets of the world for hours, camera in hand, poking around sleepy towns as well as vibrant metros. Each day, there is something new to discover. New birds to spot. New beaches to stroll. Volcanoes, fjords, and monuments to admire. New people to watch.

On sea days, I might linger in bed a little longer. My most difficult decision will be which of the activities happening on board I should participate in. I learn to play Mexican Train (with patient tutoring from my friend Mary, I enter my first tournament, and don’t suck!) I try my hand at pickleball. I watch movies and presentations given by interesting shipmates. I listen to live music as well as karaoke, and join birthday celebrations with everyone dancing to the tune of YMCA.

I spend long hours sharing meals and getting to know my new berth family, many of whom I hope will become forever friends, on the ship or off. When I need to recharge, I retire to the peacefulness of my cabin. I venture back out only when the captain announces a dolphin or whale alert; on this South America segment, that’s been an almost daily occurrence.

It’s exhilarating and exhausting. And maybe someday, the newness will wear off and I will no longer feel the wonder and awe at the world that I am experiencing right now. And then it will be time to pull the plug on this grand adventure.

But right now, it’s hard to imagine being locked into one spot on land, looking at the same view daily. I’m seeing the world the way I want to see it. Life is good.