Weathering the Storm with the WP#89

I have been back in the states for two weeks now and on the 27th of October, I am on the road again. It feels a bit like 2019, when I was on the road almost 6 months in that year, broken up over many different trips, domestic and international. I am using the time I have here to catch up on odds and ends and gearing up for 2023. Yes, 2023, which is not far from now. Where did this year go, and no, I don’t want it to race by, but Halloween is just around the corner, how scary!!! I will be, first to New York City to the International Travel Show and then, a very quick turnaround, literally one night back, to pack up everything and put everything in storage, I will be off to London. Wait, I was just there, but yes, I will be returning for a conference called the GEM and then to WTM, one of the largest travel trade shows in the world, with the rest of the month on the continent to Portugal, Spain, France, and you guessed it Italy. Believe it or not, business in Venice, but then, fun and I may even extend it, but we will see, but for now, all of November and the first week in December. ​

I have been streaming the news and the all the craziness that is out there with the midterms, the war in Ukraine, North Korea acting up, inflation and anything and everything that going on. I don’t have regular tv and only occasionally watch Netflix or one of the other services for entertainment. I had stopped watching the news for the most part, as it is all bad and I don’t want to get wrapped up in it, but I must keep tabs, as my business depends on it, being in the know. I am also back at the Christmas Tree Shops, but for how long. It is becoming obvious that my time there is short, simply because I am once again spending more time on the road. I was there for only 32 hours last week, 4 straight days, but it seemed to drag, and I thought it was longer, like I used to work. If it was busier, then the time would go faster. Maybe it was jetlag, but it who knows? I have so many irons in the fire right now and business is still sizzling. ​

My plans for the future, are stirring in me, like they never had. I sometimes lay in bed at night not sleeping, just trying to put all these plans together and again, maybe it is jetlag, but sleep in not coming as easy right now. Funny that at age 60, I have a plan. Doesn’t mean it is going to happen, but what these past couple of years have brought is clarity. My old 11th grade American Studies teacher, once said, or maybe more than that, “There ain’t no easy answers to nothing!!!” Horrible English grammar, but you get the point and so did I then and now. Having the certification to teach English, or tutor is wonderful and getting that process rolling in 2023 is the goal. Business, as well is looking good. I am optimistic for the future, and I am also realistic, but having simplified my life so much, in terms of material goods, and focusing on me and my life which includes, of course, Rosa and my business, I am very happy. 
What I have learned more than anything is that the most important things are the simple things. I know I have said that before in previous blogs, but as we are coming towards the end of this year and unlike other years past, I have had the time to reflect on what has happened so far. It has been a slower existence and I am happy for that. I don’t want the year to end yet, as it will come soon enough. I still have clients traveling and others about to travel.  I get to see Rosa again in a little over a month and our story continues, from here and there. We will see what happens over the next 2 ½ months in this crazy world in which we live, and continue to focus on what is important, discarding those things that I realize are less important and totally unimportant and sometime next year, before I once again head across the pond, for what I expect to be a longer term, I will clear out the things that have been stored now, and by almost 2 years and there is so much that is not important. 
Lastly, I hope you have had a chance to listen to part one of the interview with Rosa di Roma, which is on my website or you can find it on my YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/wanderingpuffin, which will be in 3 parts and possibly a 4th and if you are interested in the tour I am putting together for September 2023 in Croatia, send me a message, so we can get a head count by the end of the month. Four dates were given. As always, thank you for your support of my crazy little world and of my small business. It is truly appreciated, and as always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this.