5 days to go... pre-trip nerves

This has been the longest count-down, I swear! I booked my flights to Colombia 3 months

ago. The count-down timer on my phone has been ticking since that day. And as I sit here with 5 days to go, I can feel the nerves starting to kick-in.

I wrapped up at work last week. I decided to resign rather than try apply for leave without pay because I wanted to experience the feeling of total freedom that I felt in my backpacking trips when I was young. When you have no schedule, no-one other than yourself to make decisions with and nothing but a backpack, it's a pretty amazing feeling! I am not 25 anymore though. I will turn THIRTY EIGHT on this trip. ahhh

There's a few things I am nervous about. One is getting mugged. A lot of people who I have spoken to have been mugged in Colombia (don't get my wrong, most of these people still said Colombia was one of their favourite travel destinations). I've done my research and I won't use my phone on the streets, I won't carry loads of cash and I'll take some back-up money options. Fingers crossed that all goes okay.

The next thing I am nervous about is what if I don't like traveling anymore? What if I am too tired to navigate new places? Or I don't connect to the people I meet? What then? Well I've decided I just deal with that if it happens. I come up with plan B. That's the good thing about not having a fixed itinerary or plan.

The third thing I am nervous about is handling all the possible emotions that will come up. I've had a partner for ten years. He's been my rock through the many up's and down's. Soon, I'll only have myself. I know I still have many friends and family (and even my (ex)husband) just a phone call away but it's still scary!

But I know I'll be fine. I know I am resilient and confident and outgoing. I'll have good days and bad days and that's all part of it.

Next post I am covering, yep you bet, all the packing details! How I'll pack for 4-6 months in only a carry-on backpack... (first I need to actually pack!!).