Itchy Feet

My definition of “itchy feet” doesn’t have anything to do with a resulting foot fungus after running around the local pool all day. I’m referring to the feeling I get after I’ve been held up in one place for too long. 

When I graduated high school and went to college, I had itchy feet. “Is this for me? I feel like I should be somewhere else.” I was unfocused, unmotivated and unsure of who I was trying to become. I moved 13 times between high school and my final move to Colorado.

Even in Colorado, I wasn’t completely satisfied. I met Gregg & he was doing all this cool stuff; diving & sailing in the British Virgin Islands for his summer job & then working in the mountains and skiing during the winter months. I had felt my move to Colorado was the grandest thing I would do. It had been up to that point. But my feet were itching again for something new. So, during his last summer working in the BVI, I started working toward my Open Water dive certification and when he returned we traveled to Thailand for a few weeks to one, complete my certification and two, be in Thailand!

Game Changer!

The next spring we packed our things & moved to Catalina Island, off the coast of California. Gregg worked on the dive boat and I got a job in the dive shack on the pier. I worked through my Advanced and Rescue dive certifications that summer and by late fall we were ready for a new adventure.  And as if the stars were in perfect alignment, we received an email from his company in the BVI asking us BOTH to come down and help open their new dive shop on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. That is where our Caribbean adventure started and the itch in my feet finally subsided. More on that portion of our lives soon!

Fast forward…we spent two years on island (leading dives and crewing on week-long sailing charters) and decided we were ready to be back in the states and closer to family. Facebook wasn’t created yet, internet was spotty and phone calls to the states cost around $5 a minute, so we felt pretty cut off from those we loved. So, we planned our next adventure. We got married on island surrounded by close friends and family, honeymooned in St. Lucia and then re-settled back in Breckenridge, the mountain town we loved. 

Fast forward 14 years…

Still in Colorado. We acquired a dog and a child. Gregg became a nurse and I have been working at a marina the last 13 years. Life is pretty awesome! Except for those itchy feet! 

There are moments in life when I close my eyes and feel so very small in this huge world. There is so much out there and although we have traveled (and lived) in some pretty amazing places, I’d still feel regret if I were lying on my death bed having not seen and experienced more. Or more importantly, shown my child more. The world is waiting for us and we have heard the call.

The next adventure is approaching…and my feet are feeling better already. We hope you can come along for the ride!