Monday, January 30, 2012

And I- I took the one less traveled by

Well folks, it's official. I'm gonna peace out from the East Coast of the US. Destination? I don't know!!

I decided to do travel nursing. It's been a long, slow process getting here, but I finally have reached a breaking point where I need to get the heck away from this small town for a bit. There is a pretty solid chance I'll end up back here, as I don't want to live hundreds of miles from my family, but for now I need to go forth and explore.

There are a whole list of places I'd like to see and experience. I want to go live in the mountains, I want to live on the West Coast. I'd like see the Pacific Northwest. I want to live in a big city and take the metro to work. I'd like to learn to navigate a city bus system. I want to walk out my front door and see a volcano or a glacier. I'd like to be anywhere but here, at the moment.

Thus far I think my travels will take me to Denver, Seattle, San Diego, Sedona (or maybe Vegas!), Asheville, Washington DC, and New England. I might make it to all of these places, or I might not. It's okay. I think the biggest step is that I've made a step at all.

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
--Frost

I can't wait to get out and live some - even if down the road I look back on this experience and go, "why did I leave a good thing? What was I thinking?!" It will be scary, since I'll be traveling alone. I've never been to many of these places. This is out of my comfort zone. What if I don't do well as a travel nurse? What if people don't like me? What if I don't know as much as I hope I do? There are many questions, but I'm hoping this will still be a grand time. Besides...

To live would be an awfully big adventure. -Peter Pan (yeah that's right, it's from Hook. So shoot me.)

11 comments:

rnraquel said...

Don't you want to come check out Florida? It has a west coast too :)

Solitary Diner (Also Known as The Frugalish Physician) said...

Sometimes the best experiences in life come from taking a risk. Even if you return to where you are in the end, it'll be positive thing to have a new appreciation for the "good thing" that you have. Enjoy the adventure, and I look forward to reading about it.

Lynda@CMsThriftyGems said...

That's exactly what I want to do after I get a bit of experience. I would add Portland and the OR coast to the list since you want to check out the Pacific NW. Good luck and congratulations! Ooo and maybe you'll get to do a strike job and get some serious bucks.

GRC - Greg said...

I took my chance 14 months ago - boss was being inflexible yet again, I'd had enough, so I typed up the resignation letter in the med room - -BAM! done. No plan except Per Diem & look for teaching gigs. All in a Recession - insanity! Once I cooled off, I really started to wonder, even though it really was time. I got used to the lack of security, have found enough work and often then some, and the teaching is coming along - really refreshing to do want I want & when I want. Adventure and risk go hand in hand, and security and a rut too sometimes. Good luck!

Canuck said...

I moved from Ontario, Canada to do some travel nursing. Talk about a change! Canadian health care with a union backing, to US health care and a company that only cares that you make them money. However, it was one of the most exciting times in my life. I worked in California, Colarado, and North Carolina. Loved them all. I think you are going to have a blast!

You'll hit the ground running at every hospital and get some great experience. Enjoy it!

Nurse and Hospital Stories said...

Too many questions but I guess these queries will all be answered in due time but not now.:) Hope you have chosen the right path though.

God bless with your journey,
Peny@lab coat

Anonymous said...

It's good to travel nurse. The bullshit admin stuff varies from facility to facility but the patients are exactly the same no matter where you go. The care you give is the same and you just don't have to sweat much of the small stuff cause you don't really work there. I loved it!

-CandiNP

Love or Nothing said...

that's amazing! it'll be a great adventure :)

k!nkyNurse said...

I'm envious. I'd LOVE to do travel nursing but it's out of the question for me right now. I'm hopeful that once my son graduates high school in 3 years I will have an oppurtunity to do this. I have a bucket list of nursing jobs I want to do/learn and travel nursing definitely on my list.

SouthernTater said...

Asheville/ the mountains of NC are awesome! There is a lot to do, and the view is great!

Anonymous said...

It will be an adventure of a life time and you will have the best of times. It is your destiny to go and see some different things! Have fun.