Allow Me to Introduce Myself

I’M CAITLIN

I am a late twenty-something hailing from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. In my natural habitat I can be spotted with a coffee in one hand and a book in the other or hiking in the mountains and enjoying a delicious IPA. One of my favorite things to do is explore this great big world and, in a nutshell, this blog helps keep all my thoughts and pictures in a nice and neat little package. If you’re just tuning in, I’m known to be a bit quirky and also a lover of puns, so brace yourself, both will be very apparent throughout my writing. And animals, I’m pretty fond of those, too.

 

 

IN A LITTLE MOORE DETAIL…

My first trip overseas was a post-college celebration, or perhaps more accurately, it was the calm before the storm that is real adult life. With an overpacked bag on my back, my best friend by my side, and a gnome in my hand, I explored places I had only once dreamed of seeing. All those fancy calendar pictures and jaw-dropping desktop screensavers I had surrounded myself with were suddenly real and tangible.

It was then that I got bit by the notorious travel bug. Kind of.

As most vacations go, I returned home from Europe with the underlying intention of staying put and had even conveniently landed a job that fit snuggly under my degree’s description: Mental Health Case Manager in Jail Transition Services. Pretty Bachelors in Psychology and Criminal Justice, am I right? I learned an incredible amount about the field of work, career possibilities, and also the unfortunate state of America’s healthcare and incarceration system. I also learned that I was ready to see more of the world outside of the little corner I’d always known.

With great excitement, I purchased a one-way ticket to Costa Rica to volunteer with special needs individuals, a population I have worked extensively with and am incredibly passionate about.

And THAT’S when I was hardcore bitten by the bug. (And by that I mean by both the travel bug and also every mosquito and sandfly residing in Central America.) From there I made my way to Peru, then did a hop and a skip to Iceland, then realized that I’m really bad at sitting still and ended up in Southeast Asia, where I traveled extensively and even lived and taught for a bit.

Fast forward a few years and I was ready to have access to consistently hot water and reliable plumbing, to expand my wardrobe beyond the same six shirts, and also be reunited with my ridiculously sassy cute cat, Luna. Upon landing my dream job, I settled back into the States and moved up to Seattle to be closer to work. Currently I am an Expedition Specialist at a small travel company that specializes in remote destinations around the world and I absolutely love it (check us out here!). Not only do I get to help others travel to the far reaches of the world, but I also have the opportunity to explore as well. It really is a win-win-win.

Although I’ve found myself back to the work grind, I am still on the go and make personal travel a top priority. Ironically, I’ve been to nearly 3x the amount of countries as I have States, but being back in the U.S. has encouraged me to explore more of what’s in my own backyard. I’ve been centering may of my trips around National Parks and am now keen to visit them all! (You can check my slow progress here.)

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and please don’t be shy, it makes me real happy to meet fellow humans who share a similar passion for travel and zest for life! I’d love if you’d say hello – unlike the bugs in Costa Rica, I promise I don’t bite.