The last days of a chaotic year saw me continuing to balance social and solo time, work and leisure. Fully embracing my alone time like the ambivert that I am, I spent a lot of time looking back at 2022 (as written in this blog post) and considering my intentions/goals for 2023. I re-evaluated my global network, re/connecting with some folks over the holiday season. In between some moments of slight existential spiraling, I also thought a lot about my goals with my digital nomad journey, coaching practice, evolving “brand”, work, relationships, and so much more.
Amidst many days of deep introspection and festivities, since leaving the cold of Canada, my eventful month of December took place in:
- New York City
- Miami
- Las Vegas
New York City
Leaving the east coast of Canada to get back to my “third home” was a hassle. While I did occupy much of my time by curating my Spotify playlist(s) (which I almost wish I could get paid for as another side hustle), I found myself wishing I took a bus or train instead of flying from Quebec City. Despite many inconveniences on the way to Brooklyn, I made it safely to my quirky Bushwick Airbnb just in time for the evening showers. Throughout my visit, I encountered overwhelming moments of deja vu amidst some novel experiences, which exacerbated my complicated feelings about NYC. Also, the winter got the best of me for a portion of this visit, though I was able to somehow evade the new strain of COVID that was spreading throughout the city (again).
While in NYC, when I wasn’t holed up in the Airbnb or office working during the day, I ventured out to some new places and some old favorites. I watercolor-ed amidst the colorful Christmas markets in Central Park. I tried unusual teas like kratom and kava at several Brooklyn cafes (both legal in the state of New York). I indulged in as much good food/drink as I could at places like Ichiran (ramen), Father Knows Best (cafe), Milk (desserts), Little Skips (cafe), Poetica (cafe), Insomnia (desserts), and Kopitiam (Malaysian). I perused the aisles of Strand, Books are Magic and Friends. I renewed my Aura photograph. I went to an ugly sweater bar crawl in Lower Manhattan (with a hilarious DIY top, which fell apart through the night). I stumbled upon random galleries in Chelsea and Bushwick (including 1–800-Happy-Birthday).
Despite being just two weeks in the “Big Apple”, I got a lot done and was able to meet with many people — all while still having enough alone time to rest and recharge. The NYC trip felt intense, but it also felt like a trip well done. By the end of it, I felt that much more grateful to soon be on a sunny beach…
Miami
Flying in early on a work day wasn’t ideal, but it was the most affordable option — and it did feel slightly cinematic to rush from the ‘first snow’ in New York City to the warm, white sand shores of Miami Beach first thing in the morning. I found myself drained by the time I arrived at this new location — balancing frequent travel with work and my Coach certification training program (and more) has been a constant challenge even though I was technically managing. I was ready to wrap up my projects and get the winter break officially started — although I did catch a vibe working in cafes over cortados and in artsy co-working spaces. With the free time I had, I was able to spend a short week at South Beach, the Wynwood Walls, and Little Havana — just as I wished. I also followed a recommendation from family/friends, enchanted by my first visit to Vizcaya Gardens.
Las Vegas
Despite this being known as “Sin City”, my vacation in Vegas had minimal debauchery — I was in town visiting family who moved to the suburbs in Nevada. I spent the last weeks of the year participating in fun Christmas traditions with family, an obligatory night out at the casinos on the Strip, and a visit to my favorite Art District (Fremont Street, in the Downtown Area). Some favorites in the area include Publicus (cafe), Mothership (cafe) Esther’s (Italian), Tacotarian (vegan Mexican), Writers Block (cafe/bookshop), and the shopping centers Fergusons and Container Park.
Also, while I didn’t get to stop at Area15 again as planned, I did get the chance to visit the Neon Boneyard — it was a tour to remember!
As we all move into the new year, I am excited for what journeys lay ahead. Plans are still tentative at this moment but, after a planned stop in my native Bay Area, I am contemplating visits to: Mexico, the Caribbean, and more! As always, I am open to hearing travel tips and recommendations from you all in the comments and encourage you to stay in the loop about my journey.
