first person

First Person is a daily personal piece submitted by readers. Have a story to tell? See our guidelines at tgam.ca/essayguide .

After 1,500 days as a middle-aged nomad – that’s four years, one month and eight days – the word I’m called most is brave.

I am a 61-year-old divorced woman who gave up her home and belongings; left behind her adult children, friends and family; and said, “I’m going to travel the world and I don’t know when I’ll be back.”

The usual reply I receive after hearing my story is: “I could never do that.”

Living out of a suitcase, not knowing where I’m going next, often not until a few days before I’m due to move on, is not for most people. But this was – and is – my plan.

In fact, my only plan is to go where I want and when (adhering to travel

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