Everything Will Be Alright

Last week I went on my first date since moving. Before this my last date was way back in October during my road trip, so I had to refresh all my photos and change all my prompts now that I’m stationary again. I have a second date with the same person tomorrow and even though I don’t see any attraction or relationship potential so far I’m trying to be open minded and not picky. I only match with and talk to one person at a time, pay for myself and always rearrange my schedule to be available for them. If I’m still not interested after a few dates it’s okay to move on right? I don’t want to be one of those people that makes online dating a bad experience for others.

There were 2 couples sharing a table next to mine and from overhearing their conversation they were so similar to each other. I can’t imagine meeting strangers in the wild and discovering you got married the same year, both own Teslas, have traveled to a lot of the same countries and national parks, one person of each couple was a dentist and both couples owned rental properties. They talked for hours and just kept finding more and more things in common, I hope I can experience a connection like that in this lifetime.

My sweet, shy, reserved youngest sister who doesn’t drink, smoke, date, have piercings or ever show an inch of skin just got nine tattoos all at once. I was in shock when she told me. I was busy having a depression spiral the last couple of weeks but woah am I snapped out of it now. What do I even do? Ask if she’s seeing a therapist? Surely this is a sign of something, but what?

I hate this apartment and I hate owning things. I need to throw away everything I own.

I signed a lease for an apartment I’m not thrilled about, but I’m tired of searching and also tired of all my things being in storage in another state. I finally made it out to the apartment a week after starting the lease, and my parking garage sticker that I pay $275/mo for doesn’t work! The garage locks at night and that’s the only way in and out!

Frientimacy by Shasta Nelson

8-9. Hot Springs, AR

So are we all living like this or—

This is the highest ceiling I’ve ever seen in a hotel room. It felt like I was sleeping in a gymnasium.

New city, new cat cafe. I was planning to end my road trip in November and settle somewhere but I don’t really want to be alone in a new place for the holidays. Maybe I should move my “settle down” date to January.

Kitties I’ve met while traveling over the last 2 weeks. They are from Hawaii, Montenegro, Croatia and Greece!

Cat yoga is the best invention ever!

This road trip is exactly what I needed. I drove through teeny towns and major cities. Visited so, so many national parks. Tried dating apps and went on last minute impromptu dates with cis men, cis women, trans men. Lost my virginity! Got held hostage by spoiled rotten cats in a cat cafe. Hiked mountains, waterfalls, alpine lakes. Got stranded with a dead car battery and had to figure that out. Reconnected with friends I haven’t spoken to in 14 years. This was a road trip of a lifetime.