Sorry, I’ve been so absent recently. I really lost my mojo with writing or creating any content actually. Call it existentialist angst, if you like, it’s as good a term as any.
I have never been depressed in my life, but I confess, I just went into a big slump due to the dumpster fire that is world politics. Perhaps I was grieving for the old familiar world that, only two and half short years ago, I thought I’d see out my old age in.
Regarding this location, well, I don’t know what it is – I’ve wracked my brains believe me! but living in the centre of Brighton just didn’t work out for me. The flat was gorgeous, the nicest I’ve ever lived in, but I just never went out. I’ve discovered I’m seriously lazy and if you can get everything delivered, I do! I’ve also discovered that, even if there is everything cultural on my doorstep, I’m strongly disinclined to go out if there is nobody to go with. One sister is deep into a relationship, one is occupied with her gorgeous daughter who is about to produce her first grandchild and my oldest bestie no longer talks to me. I think I know why!
When Phoebe announced she was thinking of living with her BF at the end of the summer, I realised suddenly that I didn’t want to spend another summer here. It was starting to feel like a luxurious prison, especially with it being too terrifying to go onto the ‘floating’ balcony!
I’ve not been mentally idle though; I’ve been continuing to learn about macroeconomics, keeping up to date with health politics and now the so-called war. and the impact of both on global and personal finances. I’ve been reading enormous sci-fi books and really enjoying learning Spanish on Duolingo – much to my surprise.
Thomas Leonard, author of ‘The Portable Coach’ and founder of Coaching as we know it, said you must design supportive environments for you to be your best self.
I need an environment where I’m forced to go out, where when I go out, the weather is nice and the people are friendly. Where I don’t stick out like a sore thumb if I’m on my own.
I might have been awoken accidentally by my son Nelson posting amazing pics and videos on Instagram of his travels through South America.
I’ve just given up the lease on the flat in Brighton, Phoebe is going to live with the BF earlier than planned and at 60, I’m going to travel again in my search for a ‘life with more swagger and soul’. I’m thinking Greece initially, then possibly Mexico & El Salvador. I might never get to go to Greece again after this summer if Europe continues down its authoritarian path. In Greece, they are already setting up Biometric Digital ID’s in the form of Driving Licenses.
Whereas In Mexico, there’s a long-anticipated whale migration to watch and in November in El Salvador, there’s a Bitcoin Gathering that sounds fun.
Or I’ll come ‘home’ at the end of the summer and get a little house in Sussex, with a garden, and start frantically planting vegetables.
It all depends on world events.
In my posts, I’m thinking of covering…
- Where I am
- What it’s really like to travel at 60
- Who I meet
- How I feel (terrified most of the time I expect)
- Where I’m going next & why
But now I’ve got a question for you.
Do you want to come along for the ride?
I’m trying to determine my interest level in blogging regularly again because, while I need something to keep me occupied, I’m probably the least ‘driven’ I’ve ever been, being semi-retired. However, I realised much of my enthusiasm for that activity depends on whether there’s actually any audience.
If you are even remotely interested in the non-business musings of an ‘ageing but not submitting’ digital nomad, please comment below (or if you are seeing this as an email, please click through to comment).
And, if so, what do you think of this format?
- Weekly written blog posts, like a diary mixing up events, location and feelings (I’ll be keeping a private detailed daily journal too).
- There’ll be an audio version of that for those who don’t like to read. I’ll restart the Swagger & Soul podcast probably.
- Weekly videos of short clips of my locations joined together – with music – no talking to the camera or pontificating.
- Interviews with interesting people; those I meet, some I know already, recommendations.
Or should I just ‘retire’?
Some feedback would be wonderful.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Nicola x
p.s. I’ll be sad to say goodbye to this wonderful rooftop view of Brighton though. No chemtrails today.
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