Oregon: The Beginning (Part 1)

Hello everyone!

I'm sitting in a little restaurant in Portland having breakfast and thought I'd do a post, because it's about to get crazy up in here. ;)

So, I left for Oregon on Saturday morning. The dogs were distraught that I wasn't taking them with me. Little do they know that they're about to go on another adventure with me! The trip took me up through northern Colorado, through Wyoming and Utah, and then finally all the way through Idaho before crossing into southern Oregon. This was the most beautiful road trip I've ever taken.

Northern Colorado

Wyoming

Utah

Idaho

     I couldn't make the 20 hour drive in one go like I used to (I'm getting old), so I stayed with a host from Airbnb. If you don't know what Airbnb is, it's an app that allows you to find people who host travelers in their extra rooms. You can choose from shared vs single rooms, or you can even book an entire house. I chose to stay with a wonderful woman named Vicki in Idaho. It was a fantastic stay. I even got to talk about life, the universe, and everything before I left.

     After that,  I was back on the road. It was only a  short drive through the rest of Idaho before I ended up in Oregon. After which, the most amazing thing happened. Just an hour or two into Oregon, I had the thought that I was home pop into my head. I have never once in my life had such a feeling. I am determined to make a home for myself here. I guess I should really call it a home base. Each time I travel, I fall in love all over again. We have such a beautiful planet and it's such a sin to not see the world. As soon as I get my passport I'll be continuing my journeys! 

Oregon

Found this at a gas station and couldn't resist

There were much more beautiful things that my phone didn't catch because I was driving and couldn't direct it very well while it took photos. I have to move it in the GPS holder and keep my eyes on the road at the same time, so I tend to only do that if traffic is moving horrifically slow or if there's no traffic at all.

Unfortunately, splitting the drive up into two days wasn't enough. By the last 3 hours of my trip, I was completely miserable. My fibromyalgia flared up and I spent last night curled up in bed with a cold water bottle on my neck trying not to vomit. I am feeling better this morning, luckily. I did, however, arrive about half an hour early. What on earth was I going to do in that time. I felt terrible and food didn't really seem like an option, but I ended up at a little coffee shop called East Portland Coffee Roasters. I got some Hazelnut & Caramel ice cream that was so good that it overcame my urge to not eat. 

Speaking of food, I am now sitting in a restaurant named Harlow eating Banana and Walnut Pancakes with peanut butter and drinking chai AND carrot/ginger juice. I am feeling much better and I'm contemplating running to the place that I'm staying (again through Airbnb, it's so much cheaper!) and grabbing my swim suit so that I can go play on the coast. I haven't seen the ocean in 5 years. I miss it. 

There is one thing that disappoints me about Portland: there's no In-N-Out Burger. BUT there is one in Salt Lake City, so I'll be hitting that up on the way home. I don't know why the craving has become so strong, but I'd be willing to tackle some one and steal theirs if I could.

I also might call the realtor. I'm ready to start looking at houses. I want to get started on creating a top-secret villain lair before gallivanting off into the world. Somewhere that is a sanctuary to plot world domination from. If you don't already follow my Pinterest page, you should. I have all sorts of fun hiking, travel, fashion, and home stuff floating about. You can find me under the screen name Nomad Therapy. I'm also on twitter @NomadTherapy. I'm even on the Instagram under nomadtherapy, too. I should probably get on Tumblr, but I'm already falling behind on my social media. Then again, I haven't been travelling a lot. Keep an eye out for new posts. I'm here a whole week, and I'm sure  a lot is going to happen, until then....

be the love you wish to have in your life,

Victoria 

Let the Adventure Begin

I suffer from depression. I have fibromyalgia. I am trapped in a society that thinks how people perceive you is the only place that your value comes from. I have been very unhappy a long time, and earlier this week I reached my breaking point. I just need more out of life than what modern day society is offering. 

I was born and raised in the Kansas City area. First on a farm, then in a small town, then in the city. I joined the Navy to see the world. I got to see the coasts. California and Maryland. After my divorce, I headed out to Colorado. I've been here about 3 years. Even now, I'm feeling the itch. I need to move. I want to explore new places, new people, new cultures. I'm finishing up my biology degree though, that means I'm stuck until graduation. 

That's why I reached my breaking point. Being a nomad at heart and being trapped in one place can do that to a girl. Not only do I have to graduate, but I have to save up enough money to move to where ever I need to go next. Clearly, I needed a hobby that got me outside of my house, which takes my typically sewing and binge watch TV shows/movies out of the picture. I was unhappy with my life and I needed change. I had no clue. Until I went to R.E.I. to pick up hiking packs for my dogs, so I could bring them with me on my Animal Ecology class' field trips.

As I wandered around the store, I became more and more sad. I had always wanted to go hiking and camping. Year after year friends and significant others had let me down. I realized I was extremely resentful. Why didn't they want to go with me? Something clicked. Screw them, if they didn't want to come, they didn't have to, but I was going to. Used my refund to buy some supplies, and started plotting this blog. I want to use it to see my progress. The guy at the cash register had it right when he said the supplies were cheaper than therapy.

New pack and new boots.

I find it interesting that typically I feel buyer remorse when dropping money on a hobby. That's not the case this time. This time is different. I feel empowered and excited.  Like I said, I suffer from depression and fibromyalgia. Getting out and doing things is supposed to help both of those. I didn't want to give up fighting, and now I've found a new way to keep fighting. I want to see how the base line of my fitness improves. I want to see how my soul heals as I spend more time out. I want my dogs to have more time out, rather than just a stroll around the apartment complex. 

Strutting around in their puppy packs.

I'm tired of being resentful of people. I'm tired of not taking control in my life. I'm tired of constantly holding myself back because of fear. I'm of being tired. I refuse to settle. I've settled my whole life, and I'm tired of it. I'm tired of falling just short of my goals. 

I'm done with it all.

This is me taking a stand. This is me being willing to travel. This is me taking a risk. This is my leap of faith. 

This week my class went to Bear Creek Lake Park in Morrison, CO. The dogs had a blast, but we'll have to do some leash training. While they're excellent on traditional leashes, retractable leashes seem to give them larger egos and they don't think they need to listen. Currently, they're both passed out on the floor. They look so peaceful, and I get the feeling I will look just as peaceful, albeit probably not as cute, tonight while I'm sleeping. That's the point, though. I want to challenge myself with something I'm passionate about.

Thus, my adventure is just beginning and I can't describe how excited I am to see the world from trails long forgotten.

This is actually from Hudson, CO, but it was too pretty not to share.